For over 14 years now, Eurotunnel has played a major role in the development of the regions of Kent and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Apart from the 8,000 people mobilised when the Channel Tunnel was being dug and its installations built, a further 8,500 jobs have been created since commissioning in 1994.

That figure breaks down into 2,300 direct jobs, 1,500 indirect jobs and 4,400 induced jobs, of which 2,500 are linked to the Cité de l’Europe alone.

The property developments completed are also a welcome contribution to regional civil engineering firms and employment in that sector (2,200 jobs created or maintained). The Cité de l’Europe opened its doors to almost eight million consumers in 2005, of which 35% were from Great Britain and Belgium.

Eurotunnel still has property reserves which it can use as a lever for its own development and, more generally, for the economic development of the Côte d’Opale.

At the time the Concession Agreement was signed by the UK, France and Eurotunnel for the building and operation of the cross-Channel link, the French government gave Eurotunnel the task of developing 160 ha of land.
 
The property developments completed by a variety of companies to date represent an investment of £150m.

The Côte d’Opale, directly opposite England, features an outstanding geographical and economic environment. The building of the Channel Tunnel brought new road and rail infrastructure to improve the links between the UK and continental Europe.
 

More than 30 million people transit through this area every year, and tourism is growing significantly ranking now third in terms of economical contributor in the region.

The Eurotunnel terminal in France spreads over four communes. In Coquelles 450 ha have been taken over by the Channel Tunnel terminal and the commercial centre.