The regional economic impact of the Channel Tunnel has engendered much public and
private sector interest. Previous studies examining the regional implications of the Tunnel
have argued that related development pressures will be largely confined to South East
England, further widening the "North-South" divide. Economic Potential Analysis was
earlier employed by Clark el. al. (1969) and Keeble et. al. (1982a) to model the
geographical impact of the Tunnel on the relative accessibility of the UK regions. The
conclusions drawn from these studies support the proposition that the South East would
gain at the expense of the more peripheral regions. However, the important implications
of a rail-only Tunnel have yet to be modelled. The results of the present study show that
opportunities created by the Tunnel could be spread more evenly than had previously been
predicted. However, following a review of the legislative and policy environment of the
Tunnel and related infrastructure, it is argued that as a result of British Government
inaction the more peripheral UK regions are likely to be unable to maximise any potential
benefits created. Nonetheless, the overall regional economic impact of the Tunnel will
depend ultimately on the reactions of the business community (Pieda 1989a&b). The
findings of a questionnaire survey carried out for this thesis reveal a considerable degree
of similarity in perceptions and anticipated usage of the Tunnel for companies in the South
East and South West, including the "Far South West". If this similarity is apparent after
the Tunnel opens, the regional economic structure of the UK might only be marginally
affected