The London Legacy Development Corporation awarded the £5m contract, the first of 24 packages to be let, to install utilities and prepare the Stratford Waterfront for the main works due to start in summer 2019.

The 4.25 hectare site will see new buildings for Sadler’s Wells, the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The site will also house 600 new homes.

Blu-3 contracts manager, Danny Guinevan, said: “Blu-3 is extremely proud to be involved in this huge project that will bring so much to the local area.”

Lyn Garner, chief executive of LLDC, said: “This is the first of many opportunities to help build one of the largest and most significant culture and education projects in the world.

“East Bank will be a powerhouse of culture, education and innovation with world-class institutions. We want the best that the industry has to offer to help maintain the high standards of construction already established on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”