Carillion had previously been in talks with build to rent developer Moda to deliver the £80m Lexington tower, which will be the tallest development at Princes Dock on the city’s waterfront.

BCEGI has been on a pre-construction arrangement since October and is expected to sign a deal shortly.

Until now the Chinese builder has mainly worked in Manchester but is expanding in Liverpool.

In Manchester it has just started the second phases of the £1bn Middlewood Locks PRS development for Scarborough Group and Fairbriar International and is on board for Gary Neville’s St Michael’s development in the city.

BCEGI is also a construction partner on Manchester Airport Group’s Airport City development, where Carillion was also engaged as a delivery partner.

The Liverpool Waters tower, designed by Falconer Chester Hall architects, has been called the Lexington because its apes the New York-style design.

It will house 304 private rental apartments, with communal facilities including a 17th floor residents’ lounge, gym, a roof, terrace, a garden and a cinema.