Manchester-based Ocon Construction is to appoint administrators.

One of Ocon's biggest projects is the £50m Crown Place project for Liverpool University. The university has taken control of the development after Ocon staff, who had been working on it, transferred to a new subsidiary company.

Ocon has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, which protects it from action by creditors. The problems faced by the firm are reported to be linked to debts held by holding company, Opal.