Kent County Council has issued a writ against Norwegian architects in its protracted battle to recoup nearly £6million it spent on the failed first version of the Turner Centre arts gallery.

The writ against the frim Snohetta has been issued despite long-running negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute without resorting to the courts.

It is understood that a date for an initial hearing has been set for June next year, some four years after KCC scrapped the original gallery plan as costs spiralled out of control.

The news comes as the council prepares to announce the contractor that has been chosen to build what has been dubbed Turner Mark Two, the £17million on-shore gallery in Margate that has been designed by the award-winning architect David Chipperfield.

KCC, which has already spent £300,000 on legal fees in its wrangle with the architects, said it would continue to try and negotiate a settlement before any court action. Snohetta was appointed to design the first version, involving a gallery being built on Margate Pier and partly in the sea. That that was scrapped when costs soared to nearly £50million.

Cllr Mike Hills (Con), KCC’s cabinet member for communities, said: "We have served proceedings on Snohetta but we may get a settlement before then and we have left the door open to further mediation."

The writ claims £5.9million plus interest from Snohetta and alleges that the company did not consider how the 2,000 tonne structure would be installed and that the firm failed to appreciate the costs of changing the design to steel.

No-one was available to comment from Snohetta.