And it will get rid of that awful derelict Spillers building right across the dock from ExCeL.

There will also be new public open spaces and landscaping, better pedestrian, bus and cycle routes and a new pedestrian bridge across the North Woolwich Road to the new Docklands Light Railway station, which will be subject to an early architectural competition.

The flagship project of the scheme is the £80m Biota! Aquarium, owned and operated by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and expected to open to the public in 2009.

‘This is an important development for the capital,’ said David Taylor, chairman of Silvertown Quays, ‘bringing a world-class tourist attraction to an area of London that will see considerable benefits as a result.’