LLDC has appointed blu-3 to undertake enabling works for the £1.1 billion East Bank culture and education district on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The £5 million contract, the first of 24 packages to be let, will see the contractor install utilities and prepare the Stratford Waterfront for the main works due to start in summer 2019, subject to planning approval.

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 including a pioneering partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. The site will also house 600 new homes.

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 industry has to offer to help maintain the high standards of construction already established on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”

Procurement for the construction contracts is being led by LLDC, which is also the construction client.

Contracts for substructure works, Carpenter’s land bridge and common site services packages are in their tender stage. Packages for Superstructure, Envelope, Roof and MEP will be the next contracts released to the market.

There will also be a set of industry days starting this week on Wednesday 7th November for the superstructure industry day with over 40 companies attending.