Did you know that the Communauté d’agglomération de Béthune-Bruay, Artois Lys Romane is one of France’s largest intercommunal structures? It is centered around Béthune and Bruay-la-Buissière. These cities form its core. The surrounding area has a distinctly rural character.
The Communauté d’agglomération de Béthune-Bruay, Artois Lys Romane was created in January 2017. It resulted from merging three former intercommunal entities. These were the Communauté d’agglomération de Béthune Bruay Nœux et environs. Also the Communautés de communes Artois-Lys. And finally Artois-Flandres.
Béthune serves as the administrative capital. It concentrates a significant portion of the area’s jobs. The area is also characterized by agricultural lands. The Communauté d’agglomération de Béthune-Bruay, Artois Lys Romane ensures connection to the rest of France. This is achieved via multimodal transport options. These include an international highway, a high-speed train line and a navigable waterway.
The Communauté d’agglomération de Béthune-Bruay, Artois Lys Romane consists of 100 communes. These include Allouagne, Ames and Amettes. There is also Annequin, Annezin and Auchel. The list continues with Auchy-au-Bois and Auchy-les-Mines. Bajus, Barlin and Béthune are also included.
The area of the Communauté d’agglomération de Béthune-Bruay, Artois Lys Romane spans 645.6 square kilometers. In 2018, its population was 276759. This gives a population density of 429 people per square kilometer.
The past has deeply marked the territory. The Communauté d’agglomération de Béthune-Bruay Artois Lys Romane is committed to the industry.
Historically, the territory thrived due to the drapery trade throughout the Middle Ages. Béthune was an ancient seigneury. Its fortified castle attracted merchants seeking security. The drapery sector specialized and fostered related trades like tanning and dyeing. However the last drapery manufacture closed in the late 18th century.
Thereafter, the Béthune economy refocused on the primary sector. It centered on tobacco and oilseed cultivation. Coal mining also became a key activity. Béthune’s merchant culture coupled with coal mining spurred its industrial growth. This began in the mid-19th century. Béthune leveraged coal resources to power heavy industry factories. Metallurgy and textiles benefited. Its river port facilitated coal transport.
In recent years, public and private stakeholders have shown anticipation and adaptation. This has helped integrate contemporary industry issues. It also promotes resilience in the local industrial fabric. Investments have multiplied in the CABBALR region. New companies have increased its attractiveness.
The CABBALR has a particularly favorable geographic location. It lies in the center of the northwest European metropolitan area. The strategic position is a compelling asset for manufacturers. It benefits from multimodal services. This includes an international highway, rail lines with a TGV, and a navigable waterway.
The Communauté d’agglomération de Béthune-Bruay, Artois Lys Romane is actively engaged in supporting the industrial sector. The goal is to modernize production tools and promote digital transformation. The rev3 accelerator supports innovative projects for six months. The Cluster Territoire Intelligent initiative also fosters innovative projects. These projects focus on energy transition, circular economy and digital transformation.