The deal to deliver the 14 and 34 storey towers at The Residence will be a major boost for the Bolton based contractor.

Forrest is focusing on new build residential work rather than its traditional maintenance business after racking-up losses of nearly £26m in its last two full financial years.

Elliot Group’s Elliot Lawless said: “I spoke with several other developers about Forrest and only got glowing reviews.

“I went and checked out their work, spoke with subcontractors and got consistently good reports so have been working alongside my project managers, WYG, to negotiate the deal for The Residence.

“I’m delighted to have them on board and to be cracking on.”

The scheme will deliver 300 apartments when it is completed in the fourth quarter of 2018 and is the developer’s maiden project in Manchester.

Groundworks have already begun on site.

Clancy are the structural engineers, Abacus the M&E designers and the Manchester studio of Falconer Chester Hall are project architects.

Lawless said: “We’re delighted to get moving on our first Manchester scheme.  The city seems to be cementing its position as the UK’s new second city and The Residence will add materially to its scale and quality.”