The firm founded just seven years ago turned over £28m last year and employed more than 20 staff out of its Manchester Business Park base near the city airport.

Administrators from Leonard Curtis confirmed staff had been now laid off.

Harbur specialised in buying land, obtaining planning permission for schemes and then constructing them in conjunction with the relevant residential provider.

The firm built up skills in remediating brownfield sites in order to deliver affordable housing and commercial developments.

Harbur Construction was on site building a £2.9m 30 apartment scheme at Back Church street in Bolton and was working on several schemes for TAC Development including a £6m housing job of 70-plus units on the site of the Notre Dame School in Everton.

Harbur was also working on a £4.3m scheme for developer First Step at Blossom Street in Manchester’s Ancoat’s district