Large-scale sustainable development : is it long-lasting ? The case of Port 2000, Le Havre

International trade grows at approximately twice the speed of regional economies. To accommodate the largest ships and maintain its competitiveness with other important ports in northern Europe, the port of Le Havre launched a large programme, known as Port 2000, to reconstruct the infrastructure. This project, started in 2001 and completed in 2005, included five kilometres of harbour walls and four kilometres of quays. This operation involved ten years of study and consultation with the authorities, and cost nearly a billion Euros. Consultation on a very broad scale enabled the operation to include the entire Le Havre community. Policies including environmental concerns and extending well beyond the usual compensatory measures, as well as concern for the local socio-economic fabric, made this truly an operation of sustainable development. What is the story of this important sustainable development project for the port, and what is its impact on the town and surrounding area, local economic development and, on a wider basis, France's place in the European port arena ?