Four more businesses that saw trade plummet while waiting to be bought out to make way for the failed Summer Row shopping development in Wolverhampton are set to receive thousands of pounds in payouts, it emerged today.

Developer Multi has agreed settlements with five shops after owners served blight notices on Wolverhampton City Council demanding they be bought out. The notice forces the council to buy the business if its value has been hit by an impending compulsory purchase order.

The costs are being met by Multi, which struggled to secure finance for the £300 million shopping complex after Irish investors pulled out in 2008.

Today the council revealed discussions were under way to agree payouts to four more businesses whose blight claims have been accepted.

The 600,000 sq ft scheme in Snow Hill collapsed at the end of January after the council decided it could not risk taxpayers’ money.

Council spokesman Tim Clark said today: “Blight notices had been served on the council in respect of 14 property interests prior to the expiration of the compulsory purchase order deadline.

“Nine have been accepted as valid, of which five settlements have reached. Discussions are under way to settle the four outstanding notices.”

After the collapse of the scheme the council sent letters to 200 firms which would have made way for it.

Multi managing director Paul Sargent confirmed the firm was settling the claims and was in discussions with four businesses over payouts.