The seven refereed papers in this special issue of ICE Proceedings cover the planning, design and construction of the UK terminal buildings of the 10 billion pound Channel Tunnel project. Written by senior members of the project team, the papers place the terminal in context with other surface works and describe its development from concept to construction. Emphasis is given to the complex relationships which existed between the many statutory bodies, interested parties and local populations together with the responses made to concerns on environmental issues.