From Quarry to Carbon‐Conscious City: The Ebbsfleet Garden City Regeneration Experience

This case study examines Dartford’s transformation through the Ebbsfleet Garden City project, demonstrating how postindustrial regeneration can balance economic revitalization, environmental restoration, and social development. Using a chronological case study methodology with satellite imagery analysis (2006–2024) and comparative international assessment, we trace development through four phases: predevelopment (2006), planning (2012), active construction (2017), and maturation (2022–2024). Key achievements include residential construction of planned 15,000 units, conversion of 40+ hectare quarries into recreational lakes, and improved London connectivity via Ebbsfleet International Station. However, challenges persist in economic diversification, infrastructure capacity under rapid growth, and environmental management continuity. Comparative analysis with Ruhr Valley, Detroit, Bilbao, and Melbourne Docklands reveals that successful regeneration requires integrated governance, sustained corporate social responsibility (CSR), and innovative low‐carbon technologies. The Ebbsfleet case demonstrates both the potential and complexity of brownfield redevelopment in achieving sustainable urban growth.