Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been forced to put on hold controversial plans to house hundreds of asylum seekers at an ex-military airbase amid a legal fight.
It comes after the Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick announced plans last month to use two RAF sites - Wethersfield and Scampton - to provide accommodation.
Braintree District Council said at the time it would apply for a High Court injunction over the plans to use Wethersfield Airfield - built for the RAF during World War Two.
Tory Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has previously said the site in his constituency "wasn’t appropriate for asylum accommodation".
In an update on Thursday Baintree council said it had been given the green light for their case to be heard on April 19.
A statement said: "The Home Office has confirmed to the judge hearing the case that they will not move asylum seekers on to Wethersfield Airfield until a time after the court hearing and will only do so if they succeed in defending their position against our injunction."
The scheduled full day hearing, however, will not prevent the Home Office from preparing the site to house asylum seekers.
The council added: "Whilst this means that our legal action has not yet stopped the Home Office from starting to prepare the site for asylum seeker accommodation, our court hearing will provide an opportunity for the issues to be fully considered and for a determination to be given by the High Court on the legalities of the proposal."
They continue to insist Wethersfield Airfield is "unsuitable site to house asylum seekers, given the lack of capacity in local services, its isolated location and the fact that the scale of the development proposed could have a significant impact upon the local community".
The Home Office plan to use the airfields, alongside proposals for disused barges and former prison sites, comes amid intense pressure over the cost of hotel accommodation.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Just like the botched Rwanda scheme, this latest Conservative Government gimmick looks like it will fail before it even begins. Even their own council’s are refusing to be part of it."
He added: “This unworkable, expensive plan is nothing more than a distraction tactic to divert attention from their shambolic mismanagement of the asylum claim system.
“Instead of wasting more money fighting their own Council’s in court, this Government should be prioritising the 160,000 claims currently stuck in a backlog.”
Last month the Refugee Council said they were "deeply concerned" over the proposals.
CEO Enver Solomon said military bases were "entirely unsuitable" for the needs of asylum seekers, especially "vulnerable men, women and children who have come to our country in search of safety".
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites will provide cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats whilst helping to reduce the use of hotels.
“These accommodation sites will house asylum seekers in basic, safe and secure accommodation as they await a decision on their claim.
“We understand the concerns of local communities and will work closely with councils and key partners to manage the impact of using these sites, including liaising with local police to make sure appropriate arrangements are in place.”
