Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) has revealed that it made a return of less than £7m from the Bath Spa scheme, following the settlement of a legal dispute.

In November 2009, the local authority said that it had settled its long-running legal battle with contractor Carillion and architect Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners over the rising cost of the project. BANES' statement of accounts show that the council received nearly £2.8m for the financial year ending 31 March 2010, which adds to a £4.177m payout made in 2008-09.

Carillion launched legal proceedings against the council in August 2008 in a bid to claim £2.4m, before BANES issued a counter claim for £21m over the scheme, which eventually cost £45m to complete. Thermae Bath Spa was first mooted in 2000 but ran into delays due to faulty paintwork and waterproof floors. The spa finally opened in August 2006 more than four years late and nearly three-times over budget.

In its statement of accounts, BANES said: "The settlement provided for net payments to the council by Carillion JM Limited and Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners. "The settlement reflects a legal agreement that takes into account the claims made by the council against the architects and contractors, as well as claims that were previously being made against the council by the contractors."