The scheme includes two full-size sports halls and an all weather floodlit pitch, as well as a facilities building connected to the sports halls.

Graham Brown, Managing Director, Denne, said: “We are looking forward to bringing our wealth of expertise to this project, which will provide the University of East London with first class sporting facilities.”

The buildings have been designed with sustainability in mind and include green roofs, as well as photovoltaic cells for solar energy production and a biomass boiler for heating in order to meet a 20% target for renewable energy production.

All waste from the ground works has been recycled for use on the site, so it has not been necessary for any lorry movements to take waste away.

The site, which historically was part of the Royal Albert Dock, has been subject to various site surveys, including ecological and archaeological examinations and even a search for unexploded bombs.

On completion, towards the end of next year, the facilities will be available for University staff and students, as well as the local community.