please empty your brain below

Just be grateful that they’ve not declared Barking Riverside as the “Heart of the East End” like every tower block in Walthamstow.
Given there is no shortage of demand for new homes, the developers could save money by scrapping thier copy writers altogether. Why not send a submission to the advertising standards commission and see what they say about all these exaggerated claims, you could be the catalyst that changes a whole industry's approach to marketing?
Greenwich Millenium Village, Ilford Western Gateway, Goodmayes Toxic Tesco Towers, developer-speak is landing in front of us all around. The Rotherhithe peninsula and Canada Water are steeped in history and I have watched buildings go up since 2017. Canada Water is essentially a small freshwater dock, dated shopping centre funky cantilevered library and absolutely massive carpark, and although I no longer have contract maintenance work in the area I look forward to seeing if the marketing speak bears a remote resemblance to 2024/5's actuality.
Reading the first paragraph, I thought for a moment that you had some sympathy for the marketing bods. Then you reclaimed form and went for the throat.
Having worked on projects like these and watched the ‘creatives' (ugh) present their stuff to the client, as long as it sounded exciting and included a few ‘big energy’ words as one bunch called them it always got nodded through.

In the overall scheme of things what they printed on the site hoardings was not important, it’s more that they had to have something on there because everyone else did.

Accuracy was never really mentioned, often because the client wasn’t London or even UK based and therefore didn’t know much about the location or the transport links (other than it was going to net them a huge profit).
These calorie free statements sum up modern like in general.

I'm committed to helping reduce carbon emissions by the way.
I particularly like the idea of Australia being "minutes away" - impossible to argue with of course. Mentioning "nature and water" as if they're two separate categories also seems a bit odd - water has to be part of nature at the very least; arguably the most important thing in nature.
Let's be grateful that there are no stray apostrophes or spelling mistakes.

But I agree that someone should make the ASA aware of these false claims. Presuming that the ASA oversee signs on building sites?
The bolx issued to promote the proposed (and locally opposed) redvelopment of the o2 shopping centre in North London isn't quite as egregious as this but is trending in the same direction
It's absolutely pervasive, and of course doesn't get updated when situations change. Hence how a whole swathe of development in the Beam Park area is still proudly advertising that you will get to Fenchurch Street in 20 mins from the brand new Beam Park Station, opening soon.
The 1930s apartment block Corner Fielde was “Mayfair in Streatham”. Now, that’s the approach we need.
I foolishly clicked on the Canada Water link. Was pleased to see they mention "Crossrail" so obviously didn't get the TfL memo but then...

"more green space per person than almost anywhere else in London"

I'd love to know how they can make that claim. Is it because nobody lives on the shopping centre site? If it is then once the development is complete it can't be true.
The water is a greenish-blue so maybe that counts as “green space”
If Perfect Fried Chicken (see Wednesday) can be made to change their name despite clearly not being meant to be taken literally, perhaps the ASA might eventually decide to challenge some of these claims.

"A place like no other" seems reasonable, if pointless. What's wrong with "2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes for sale"?
People only get paid to write BLX because some people are impressed by it. Which are the stupid ones?
I love a good pen-lashing to round off the week!
To be fair, the Canada Water development site has quite a bit of green and blue around it within just a few minutes walking distance. The slogan "Where dockland meets park and woods" is reasonably accurate (ok, 'woods' not in the countryside sense) and somewhat distinguishes the site from others.

It is therefore even more disappointing that they feel the need to resort to all the other bolx for their headline statements. But as the end result is likely to be a set of identikit blocks, maybe that's the reference framework.
I'm relieved you've used the "flats" word. Apartments is a complete misnomer - they should be Togetherments.
Keep in mind the publicity is not directed at people like you.

A lot of the target audience has no idea where Canada Water is let alone ever having been there or knowing what it’s like. And that is true both for people already living in London who are only triangulating between home/office/gym, and prospective overseas landlords. Otherwise how could they buy into that rubbish?
An article in the Standard this week picked out Rotherhithe as a top place to buy a home in 2023. The article then devoted most of its space to saying how amazing Canada Water is going to be with its 'riverside' regeneration. Whilst I know they're close and I'm just a visitor, I'm a lot more drawn to Rotherhithe than Canada Water.
Seen on my lunchtime stroll today, next to some photos covering the windows of an as yet unlet retail unit in a new development out the back of Kings Cross: "Art as Placemaking. King's Cross, Time Well Spent." The notable place in question being "over the road from the goods entrance of Waitrose", where no one would willingly spend (well) any more of their time than they needed to walk past to somewhere more interesting.
R4 4.30 - 5.00pm today.

At least this 'opportunity' doesn't have an attached song.

The songs for SWF and MK were very amusing.
"Trust the evidence of your own eyes." Hear hear to that.
Advertising and marketing love an awards. The competition of property development bolx is fierce.
Tbf I've seen kingfishers along the canals of Barking Riverside. Still wouldn't want to live there though.
What is it with shopping centres in Southwark? Elephant and Castle gone, Surrey Quays going, The Aylesham Centre probably on the way out.










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