Council loses attempt to block asylum centre on Essex airfield

Braintree authority took action to try to stop Home Office housing up to 1,700 people at MoD Wethersfield

A high court judge has rejected a council’s attempt to block government plans for an asylum centre at a Ministry of Defence airfield in north Essex.

Braintree district council sought an injunction to try to prevent the Home Office from placing up to 1,700 people at MoD Wethersfield, close to the village of the same name, which has a population of 700 people.