Construction work at Westfield’s mammoth Stratford City shopping complex is complete.

Contractors finished building the 1.9 million sq ft centre last week ahead of its opening on September 13.

It came as bosses announced scores of big name retailers who will be setting up shop there in addition to flagship stores John Lewis, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, and the 14-screen Vue cinema.

They include Mothercare, Lush, Jessops, H Samuel, Swatch, Phones 4 U and Claire’s Accessories.

Around 80 per cent of the 300 retail units and 50 restaurants have now been let.

Bill Giouroukos, director of operations at Westfield, said: “The retail mix we are putting in place at Stratford will be the next chapter in retail development for London.

“We have secured a number of leading retailers who will be complemented by the extensive dining, leisure and entertainment offer we are creating to make Stratford City a lifestyle destination and a new metropolitan centre for East London.”

Almost 21,000 people have been employed during the �1.45 billion construction project, which began in 2008.

It involved laying 350,000 cubic metres of concrete and erecting 44,000 tonnes of steelwork during nine million manhours.

Keith Whitmore, director of design and construction, said: “We are delighted to deliver the base build on time and on budget.

“We have applied Westfield’s unique range and breadth of expertise and talent right across the Stratford City

project, and our construction team can be truly proud of their achievement.

“We are now in a great position to present stores to retailers, to capture the momentum into launch this September, and of course towards the Olympics”

Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales, who attended the ceremony to mark the completion, said: “I’m delighted to mark this key milestone in the development of Westfield Stratford City, which continues to prove a vital engine for jobs and regeneration in Newham.

“I’m proud of the constructive partnership Newham has built with Westfield, in particular in delivering skills and training for residents in the borough now and over the long term.”

Westfield estimate the centre will deliver around 10,000 retail jobs when it opens for business.