After almost two years in limbo Kingston Adult Education will have to wait at least another 12 months for a permanent home.

Classes currently run out of Surbiton’s empty Newent House, but were due to move to 46-50 Coombe Road, New Malden, for the start of term this month.

Kingston Council has now released a statement stating the move has fallen through after “difficult” and “frustrating” talks with landlords.

The service was temporarily moved to the former care home in Surbiton after Kingston Academy free school took over its original North Kingston Centre site in Richmond Road.

Councillor Andrea Craig, lead member for education and skills, said: “Over the last year there have been successive issues that have frustrated progress on this important project.

“In recent months negotiations with the landlord, which originally were progressing well, began to become difficult.

“With these negotiations becoming increasingly frustrating in recent weeks we have been unable to agree what we consider to be reasonable commercial terms. I have therefore taken advice from senior officers and I am clear that the best solution is for the adult education service to continue at Newent House for one more year.”

She added she was unwilling to have the council rushed and “pushed into a deal” that would not be in the interest of service users or represent value for taxpayers.

The landlord of the Coombe Road building was unavailable for comment.

Adult education service user Christine Arnold said: “I just think it really is time that adult education is prioritised and given a good permanent home.

“At the moment no one seems to be prepared to put any money into the service.

“If the council had taken the bull by the horns initially and spent money building a new comprehensive school none of this would be happening to the adult services.”

Last year councillors were forced to overrule Surbiton residents’ objections following parking concerns in relation to the move from the North Kingston Centre.

But despite the upheaval and uncertainty surrounding Kingston’s adult education, the service achieved a “good” Ofsted rating in June.

Courses are set to continue at Newent House for the time being.