Sandwell and West Midlands Hospital Trust revealed that it is now fighting to meet a December restart date for final completion works to begin.

The trust said it was now counting on getting full sign-off for the £267m contract in the next few weeks to secure its targeted 2022 opening before mid-summer.

Trust chief executive, Toby Lewis, in board meeting papers, said: “The board approved the final business case to complete the Midland Met at its June meeting in expectation of external approval by the end of August 2019.

“While that timetable has not been achieved, it remains possible to achieve re-start on site at the outset of December. This would, probably, secure 2022 opening before mid-summer.

“That timetable is achievable if a deal is reached in October, given adjustments to the extant early works contract that we have made conscious of the small delay.”

Balfour is presently on site on a care and maintenance basis at the stalled hospital project.

The contractor is now working with the Trust and cost consultant Gleeds to complete MEP validation and assess supply chain returns, while the final business case is still before Government officials for final sign-off.