The project will involve building a 16,000 sq m striking seven storey building, which has been designed by architect Stride Treglown and structural engineer Gifford to act as gateway to the Peel Park campus site.

The project, which went to a second bid competition after several design changes, attracted bids from Lend Lease, Laing O’Rourke, Shepherd, Vinci and Willmott Dixon

It includes a public square and access routes to link the university and a new student village with the nearby Salford Crescent railway station and the local communities around the campus.

Earlier this month a Kier and Graham Group consortium was awarded a £64m contract to build a 1,400-room student accommodation complex at the site.

Work will also start in November on the first phase of the project which will involve building three tower blocks up to 10 storeys high.