A contract to build and run a controversial accommodation centre for asylum seekers could be signed soon, but construction cannot start until the legal wrangling is complete.

The Home Office has confirmed it expects to announce the centre's operator shortly.

But claims that building work on the proposed site - surplus Ministry of Defence land between Arncott and Piddington - is due to start within weeks is unfounded.

Senior land agent Kathy Edwards said: "We are not planning to demolish any buildings.

"We are planning on sending workmen on to the site for some ground investigation work."

She said similar ground work, which involved boring holes and taking soil samples, took place last year.

Cherwell District Council's south area planning officer Bob Duxbury, said: "Until the Home Office has detailed planning approval they will not start building.

"They themselves have not finalised the internal layout.

"They have not made a submission to us. We can be sure no development is going on in the near future."

A Home Office spokesman said the contract to build the centre had not been awarded, therefore it was unlikely work would start soon.

She said: "We are in the process of appointing a contractor and expect to sign contracts shortly."

Cherwell is challenging a High Court judge's decision to allow the Home Office to build the centre.

If it gets permission to go to the Court of Appeal, the council's case will go before three judges who will assess if Mr Justice Collins's decision was wrong in law.

If it fails, it will be unable to stop the development going ahead.

However, the Home Office would have to submit a detailed planning application - including layout, design of buildings, landscaping and car parking.

The application would go through an eight-week consultation process and would be discussed by councillors at a south area planning committee.

The committee could turn down the application if it felt the design was not appropriate, which would force the Home Office to submit amended plans.