Room with a view in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The view from a balcony (Image: Archant)

Work is well underway in constructing The International Quarter’s two residential blocks, known as Glasshouse Gardens, which will provide 330 new homes.

“Before we had a shovel in the ground we had around 85 per cent of them sold,” explained project manager Kevin English.

“They’re built with the balconies looking over Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and we really want to encourage people to use the facilities.”

Families moving into Glasshouse Gardens will also benefit from a multi-use games area built close to the 17 and 30-storey blocks.

Most floors will have eight flats, linked by an interior staircase and lifts, with penthouses at the top of the buildings.

Kevin explained that work is being done in three stages, in such a way that it minimises the impact on the area around it.

“We’ve got parts being built in places like Doncaster and brought over,” he said. “There’s a hotel nearby so we’re limited on the hours we can work.”

Each floor is at a different stage. Some have all the interior walls, windows and balconies in place – and even the underfloor heating.

Most of The International Quarter’s buildings, including the flats, will be located in the south zone, which will have 10 plots.

The north zone, located close to Stratford International, will have four, one of which will be a hotel.

It is being developed as a partnership between Lendlease and London and Continental Railways.

“We’re going to have 25,000 new jobs here,” said community development manager Jason Vincent.

“We’ve got two of the other plots taken already, and others are being negotiated.”

The first offices will be occupied in 2017, with Transport for London and the Financial Conduct Authority being the first two companies to move in.

The International Quarter is set to be fully completed by 2025, with homes, offices and a hotel helping to once more transform an ever-changing corner of London.