The centre, on former MoD land, will hold 750 people

Cherwell District Council has won permission to proceed with its judicial review challenging John Prescott's decision to approve the development of the centre near Bicester.

The Conservative-run council called for the review in October 2003, claiming that the deputy prime minister's decision to override an independent planning inspector's advice was legally flawed.

The review hearing is expected to take place between 1 March and 7 April.

Deputy leader of Cherwell District Council and Bicester Town Council member Lawrie Stratford said: "This will give the residents in the southern part of the district, and Bicester and surrounding villages in particular, some encouragement that the district council is justified in taking action against the process to approve this centre.

We believe we have a strong case and by this decision we shall have the opportunity to present our case that an inappropriate procedure was used to obtain planning permission Council leader George Reynolds

"The district council is committed to ensuring that in a matter as significant as this the proper legal processes must be used."

Legal experts have already warned that it could cost the local authority up to �500,000 to pursue the case.

The site itself, between the villages of Arncott and Piddington, has been earmarked to house up to 400 single men, 50 single women and 300 family members while their asylum applications are being processed.

A major public inquiry into the proposed centre ended in March 2003.