Those battling over the future of Gravesend town centre will go head to head today at the High Court in London.

In a hearing expected to last until Friday, Gravesend’s future should be decided when a judge either throws out claims the Heritage Quarter plans were illegitimate or agrees with the council and work can finally start on the scheme.

The day-and-a-half hearing at The Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand challenges the legality of decisions made by Gravesham council, with the court offering a supervisory role.

It will question whether the final decision was beyond the power of Gravesham council’s planning department and whether all changes to circumstances were taken into account.

The judicial reviews website states: “Judicial review is a type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body.

“In other words, judicial reviews are a challenge to the way in which a decision has been made, rather than the rights and wrongs of the conclusion reached.

“It is not really concerned with the conclusions of that process and whether those were ‘right’, as long as the right procedures have been followed.”

Mr Justice Lewis granted the review after a challenge by civic society Urban Gravesham.

It was made at the 11th hour back in June and is thought to have already cost the Gravesham taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds.

Work on the multimillion-pound scheme, which includes flats, restaurants, a 50-bedroom hotel and underground car parks, was due to start this month. The first phase, between Queen Street and High Street, was approved in April 2013.

Everything was put on hold until the outcome of the review.

Potential outcomes will likely either see Gravesham council found in favour and work can begin, or Urban Gravesham will be celebrating when the plans are referred back to the council. This could mean it goes back before councillors for determination.