A troubleshooting firm of consultants is to be appointed to get Wolverhampton’s £300million Summer Row shopping centre project back on track.

Auditors from Ernst & Young LLP have been asked to reassess the stalled scheme.

Regeneration chief Councillor Paddy Bradley said the delay in the project, caused by a funding crisis, meant that it needed to be looked at in detail. The ruling Tory cabinet will consider a decision that Ernst & Young LLP will be the council’s financial advisers for the project.

The scheme has been left in limbo while Irish developer Multi tries to secure half of the cash – about £150million – to allow it to go ahead.

The Summer Row complex, which will be bordered by Snow Hill, Tempest Street and Cleveland Street, has been delayed since a funding deal collapsed.

Multi pledged commitment to the development and has until next December to secure the necessary funds.

Councillor Bradley said: “We will have to look seriously at exactly what is going on with Summer Row.

“We will, of course, be keeping the public fully informed.

“We need to know exactly what land we have and do not have, and we need to tidy up everything so that we can move forward. Everything has to be brought up to date – how it’s going to affect us and everyone involved.

“Clearly in the recession, there are not the big sums of money out there that were originally envisaged for large projects such as this one. That’s why we need some expert advice, and that is why we want to appoint Ernst & Young.

“It is going to cost thousands of pounds but this advice will help us to get this project off the ground.”

Construction work on the complex, due to be anchored by Debenhams and Marks & Spencer, was meant to begin in March this year.