Freya Parkinson Yr 4

False Dawns The Thames Gateway has been plagued by half-baked promises and ghost projects since its inception. Resulting in a series of isolated developments, with poor facilities and a lack of quality outdoor space. However, emboldened by government agendas and manifestos, developers continue to erect ‘copy and paste’ housing estates, offices, and business parks. This area is currently disjointed from the reality of the fading riverside dream and ignorant of community and environmental needs.

As these False Dawns mount up, these forgotten towns, lie under the shadows of half-built infrastructures and a sense of unease about the future. A lack of jobs, decent education, and the looming threat of devastating flooding, leaves the question – why continue to bed new roots in rotten soil?

As developers eye up remaining ‘unused’ space, the False Dawns Co. aims to deter these short-term gainers from fruitlessly inhabiting more land for further ‘New Beginnings’. As, how can we solve the plight of the estuarine exurbia if we keep plugging the wrong gaps? If we keep building lives on temporary land?

At places like Swanscombe, proposals for a new Theme Park promise employment and a sense of destination. But the benefits do not outweigh the losses – not for the residents, human or otherwise. Nor do they offer a long- term solution for the locals or the estuary.

As communities push back against these inappropriate developments, the following project proposes a solution to this Wicked Problem of short-term profit versus quality of life, and that is to build for the inevitable future. Give back to nature. It will happen anyway.

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