Berkeley Group has made it through to the next phase, along with Delancey and the Chelsfield Consortium.

But separate development bids from Barratt, Kier, Stanhope and Hutchison Whampoa failed to make it the the next phase of more detailed bidding.

The Silvertown Quays site will be a mixed-use development on the scale of Canary Wharf with a far stronger housing element.

In total the development site will accommodate 500,000 sq m of building space.

More than 4,000 homes are earmarked for the site, as well as a large aquarium and hotel.

The shortlisted developers will now work with the London Development Agency to draw up detailed proposals for the former docks site.

The Mayor unveiled the trio at the topping out ceremony for global giant Siemens’ new sustainability centre in the Royal Docks known as “The Crystal”.

Set to open next year, it is located in the Mayor’s Green Enterprise District and is being built to innovative environmental standards.

Mayor Boris Johnson said: “Located in the heart of the new Royal Docks Enterprise Zone, Silvertown Quays has a very bright future that will help drive the regeneration of east London.

“I look forward to seeing inspiring ideas that rise to the challenge we have set.”

London Development Agency chief executive Lurene Joseph said: “We are now looking to the shortlisted developers to come up with detailed proposals that match our ambition to transform Silvertown Quays into a thriving world class urban centre.

“We look forward to selecting a final preferred developer in March 2012.”