Fort Dunlop

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Fort Dunlop (grid reference SP129902), is the common name of the original tyre warehouse and head office of Dunlop Tyres in Birmingham, England. It was established in 1917.

Fort Dunlop is a landmark building next to the M6 motorway, near to junction 5. It is a Grade A locally listed building.

Dunlop Tyres now occupies a small part of the original factory area.

The old Fort building, derelict for twenty years, is being redeveloped into a Travelodge, with adjacent business and shopping site: The Fort Shopping Park with work beginning in December 2004. The developers are Urban Splash. By March 2005, all windows were removed to reveal the shell. The steel structure which would house the 100-bed Travelodge hotel began construction and the largest advertisement hoarding in the world at that time was constructed on the front of the building. The steel structure was completed in June 2005 along with the roof structure. The concrete was added to the steel structure two months later. They were made offsite and transported to the building where they were fitted into place. They contained the circular holes on one side to make way for the circular windows. By the end of 2005, the windows were being added to the inside of the building. The outside structure would be left as it was and the window structure would be built within. The concrete work had been completed to the adjacent structure and work had began to paint it dark blue with "FORT DUNLOP" added to the top of the structure by March 2006. The sign will be illuminated at night<ref>City landmark set to dazzle - Birmingham Mail (Mar 2 2006)</ref>. By June 2006, the windows had been fitted to the Travelodge and the hotel opened to the public. Window work on the inside of the old building was being completed and the floor layouts were being defined. Fort Dunlop is set to be opened in an opening ceremony on December 1, 2006<ref>Three Month Countdown for Birmingham’s Iconic Fort Dunlop - Locate Birmingham (September 6 2006)</ref> <ref>Clock is ticking for Fort Dunlop grand opening - Birmingham Post (Sep 6 2006)</ref>. When completed, it will have the largest living grass roof in the United Kingdom which will provide natural insulation and a wildlife reserve.

In August 2006, Urban Splash announced that three retail companies were to move to Fort Dunlop. House accessories, Dwell, relocating from the Custard Factory, Snap Galleries and a Birmingham-based coffee outlet called The Daily Grind Coffee Company are all to move into the building<ref>Prestigious Retail Hat Trick For Birmingham’s Iconic Fort Dunlop - Locate Birmingham (August 2 2006)</ref> <ref>Retailers rush to sign up for fort - Birmingham Post (Jul 19 2006)</ref>. Another company, Boxer, a design consultancy, was announced as the first tenant. They will be moving from their base in Coleshill<ref>Iconic Fort Dunlop In Birmingham Announces First Tenant - Locate Birmingham (July 11 2006)</ref>