Quite a lot of information in the following article.

Please back Fort Dunlop Jul 22 2005
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By John Duckers, Business Editor


The people of Birmingham were yesterday urged to back the redevelopment of the famous Fort Dunlop complex.

The call came from Nathan Cornish, senior development manager of Urban Splash, which is transforming the former tyre factory into a £45 million mix of office and leisure schemes.

Speaking at the Breakfast Connection event at the International Convention Centre, Mr Cornish said it was "a very difficult building to make work" and he told his 250-strong audience of business executives: "I hope you can get behind it."

He said the Manchester developer was excited to be involved, but bemoaned how no-one from the Midlands had been prepared to take it on.

"It is quite sad that a developer from Manchester is doing the job . . . a building that somebody from Birmingham should have taken to their heart."

Work started on the complex, which last produced a tyre in 1980, in 2004. It is now well on.

It involves bars and retail on the ground floor, 300,000 sq ft of offices and a 100-bed Travelodge hotel.

Its design sees the bright blue coloured hotel "crash into the building in a blue wedge".

And referring to its most recent use as a giant advertising banner site, easily seen by motorists on the M6, Mr Cornish said: "From the most famous banner site we want to change it into the most famous office site."

Noting some had challenged Birmingham that it could not be considered a new and vibrant city until the dereliction of Ford Dunlop had been dealt with, he noted: "We are very happy to be working in Birmingham."

Mr Cornish said the £5 million Travelodge would open next June.

He admitted there had been some initial reluctance from potential occupiers, putting this down to scepticism about whether anything would actually happen.

There had been too many "false dawns".

But once plans had been drawn up and it could be seen that Urban Splash was " serious" then attitudes changed.

There will be 45,000 sq ft of offices and Mr Cornish said there had been "a lot of interest".

He said: "We are talking to occupiers at the moment, both UK and overseas."

Urban Splash is also working on the 17-acre Walsall Waterfront project, near to the town's new art gallery.

Mr Cornish said that, despite the gallery, the area was yet to become an attractive destination.

It need places around it where people could eat and drink, and he promised the company would make that happen.

With a canal going through the middle of the site, it was a special opportunity, said Mr Cornish.

The 12-year-old Urban Splash made its name in the North-west with a series of regeneration schemes, typically with a mix of offices and apartments, in both Manchester and Liverpool utilising innovitive design and architecture.

Meanwhile NEC Group chief executive Andrew Morris told Breakfast Connection that the organisation needed "a good deal of re-shaping".

He said business development needed to be "much more aggressive", said a cultural change towards visitors had to be addressed, and re-iterated how £40 million was being spent to upgrade facilities.

And Mr Morris outlined how he wanted to double audience numbers from five million to ten million over the next ten years.

The ICC was having its "best ever year" and next week welcomes a Baptist Centenary Congress. A new auto show, MPH, headed by Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear team, is set for the NEC in November and Birmingham has bid for the massive ITU Telecom show against Geneva and Paris.

It happens every three years and Birmingham is aiming at the 2009 event.

It would take up 50,000 bedrooms in and around the city.

Indeed so keen are the team to land it, rather than spend £1,000 on couriering the bid documents to the organisers in Geneva, a representative was sent on a £400 easyJet ticket to deliver them personally.

A decision is expected in January.

clarkson at the NEC, cool!

Apparently he's a big fan of Birmingham

clarkson at the NEC, cool!

uncool. Check the Jeremy Clarkson Berating thread.

uncool. Check the Jeremy Clarkson Berating thread.

Does it still exist?

Now you mention it, probably not.

Then again, we lost all the important threads, so it probably survived.

so what if he makes fun of brum, i'm still a BIG fan of the guy

Ey pirlo, get ya fuckin hands off my DUCK , i had it first :)

and everyone keep their mitts off my drumming banana

"Ey pirlo, get ya fuckin hands off my DUCK , i had it first"

ooh bitchy!!!

:laugh: i was only joking matey

dont matter i like this horse one, can just magine the knights on the horses going into battle shouting



"scaramouche,scaramouche will you do the fandango? Thunderbolt and lightning..." :bash:

if you dont like clarkson, then read this

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/760722683?ltl=1116610416/

Some Fort Dunlop construction pics taken from Images of Brum

http://www.**************************/php-cgi/gallery/albums/construction/08CH0805_272.jpg

http://www.**************************/php-cgi/gallery/albums/construction/08CH0805_250.jpg

http://www.**************************/php-cgi/gallery/albums/construction/08CH0805_267.jpg

http://www.**************************/php-cgi/gallery/albums/construction/08CH0805_285.jpg

so its basically a posh service station then....

Do many people live in service stations?

so its basically a posh service station then....

Yep, anyone else seen a 7 storey service station, with boutique shops and everything else?

Grow up

and a service station that doesnt have an exit to the motorway

can someone have a close look at the construction picks and see how many floors it has!?!?!?!?!?

The main building has 6 (according to Locate Birmingham) the extention has 9 with a foyer floor

What a dull and dreary Sunday weatherwise in fact so shite the only photo's I bothered to get today were of Fort Dunlop....may as well post them at the top of a new page :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%202/FortDunlopSeptember18th2005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%202/FortDunlopSep18th2005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%202/FortDunlopSep18th05.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%202/FortDunlop18thSept05.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%202/FortDunlop18thSept2005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%202/FortDunlop18thSep2005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%202/FortDunlopSept182005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Construction%202/FortDunlopSept18th05.jpg

god its huge ;)

That is one massive building!!

Bigger than Manchester ;)

Brilliant pics Smiley :)

Size isn't everything. But it's a MONSTER init?

You don't appreciate the scale of the building from the front as its covered up but from the back it looks massive, a self contained village!!!

I'd love to see into the future and see this area in 10 years time. It would be brilliant for north Brum if they clean the area up (in terms of scum) knock a few tower blocks down, tidy up the industrial bits so they feel safe and create a 'town centre' around the Fort. This will all help Castle Vale continue its ascent out of the mire.

Its not that bad an area, its about 5 mins from sutton coldfield (depending on traffic) also shard end is very close aswell. although the less said about chelmsly wood the better

Here's the view from just down the road :runaway:

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/368/pict00078kp.jpg

it certainly is impressive and shows that large developments need not only be done in the city centre

but isnt this taking jobs away from the city center,and making it dead???not good news for brum city center

Bob I think this is more targetted at out-of-town stuff so the city centre shouldn't suffer. I would guess that call centres and the like will inhabit this building - and maybe even companies like construction companies who need to be close to the motorway and don't need a city centre presence.

[QUOTE=Smileyface]Here's the view from just down the road :runaway:
What's wrong with that? Good transport links! lots of vertical Housing!

Oh, the Stab City sign?? Argh!!! :runaway:

I haven't seen Fort Dunlop for a while and it's great to see it being converted. I've always loved it, it's such an iconic building. The conversion reminds me a bit of Lingotto in Turin, the old FIAT factory as used in the Italian Job.

Has anybody been past this recently. I haven't had the privalledge of travelling down the M6 lately lol. Furthermore when does this finnish/open for business.
I really like this project it will definitly help Birmingham's image to everybody else in the country who comes down the M6.. they see this and our rather average skyline (from this angle i'm affraid it is) and never actually get into Brum. That's why i think a skyline is really important for Brum so we look inviting from a distance. I remember going to Melbourne for the first time on a coach heading through the outskirts through an ugly industrial area but my eyes were fixated on this huge (well as it got closer) fantastic skyline..first impressions.

I am quite excited about this project. I like it

City landmark set to dazzle Mar 2 2006




By Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail


A TOUCH of Hollywood is coming to Birmingham from tonight with Fort Dunlop set to dazzle again after 25 years in darkness.

A Los Angeles-style gigantic letter sign has been installed to mark the rebirth of the international landmark as a major redevelopment project.

The massive new illuminated rooftop sign, spelling out FORT DUNLOP, will create a new beacon for the city to the thousands of motorists driving past every day on the M6.

With the Oscars taking place on Sunday night, Suzie Ralph, director of FILM Birmingham, will tonight flick the ceremonial switch to illuminate the site for the first time since the 1970s.

The sign comprises huge, 3D acrylic faced letters each standing over 2.5m high and supported on specially fabricated galvanized steel columns.



Guy Jackson, West Midlands director of developers Urban Splash, said: "We're incredibly proud of the reinvented Fort Dunlop.


"The development timetable is on track, and with space from just £10 per square foot, interest has been understandably high. The lights switch on is a great indication that very soon, Fort Dunlop will be open for business."


Simon Stokes, business development manager for Warwick-based Ace Signs Group, suppliers of the signage, said: "The letters will bring light and a sense of location to the immediate surrounds, and will normally be lit using white lighting.


"They also have the capacity to be illuminated with colour, drawing from a palette of millions of different shades. This will be used to support brand or tenant launches, as well as to potentially mark national days such as St George's Day, with red and white."


The site is being converted into a mixed-use complex as part of a huge £45 million redevelopment programme. The 350,000 sq ft site has already created 1,000 jobs, with developers aiming for around 2,500 once the building is complete.


The scheme will be officially launched at an opening ceremony before Christmas with Urban Splash aiming for a rolling programme of office occupation.

I'm looking forward to seeing that.

I may take a drive down the M6 later tonight to take a peek, as long as it is switched on tonight. I love any landmarks like this!

I drove past Fort Dunlop last night and was quite disappointed - 10 medium sized red letters that you can't even see if you're heading south on the M6. I think I was expecting it to be a bit more outstanding and unique.

I drove past Fort Dunlop last night and was quite disappointed - 10 medium sized red letters that you can't even see if you're heading south on the M6. I think I was expecting it to be a bit more outstanding and unique.

The BBC seem to think it's fairly unique - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4774172.stm

"California has its Hollywood signs in the hills and now Birmingham has its own letters in the sky.

Drivers on the one of the busiest M6 stretches can now see a new sign made up of 2.5m-high (8ft) letters.

The ten huge letters spelling out the name of the Fort Dunlop building are lit up at night and will be seen by drivers heading to or through the city."

I drove past Fort Dunlop last night and was quite disappointed - 10 medium sized red letters that you can't even see if you're heading south on the M6. I think I was expecting it to be a bit more outstanding and unique.

The letters change colour!!!

They fade from one colour into the next, and for some reason the 'F' has a mind of its own :nuts:

i cant help but think this is a bit of a non-story in terms of the letters....must have been a quiet day at bbc midlands today lol

yeah somehow "Fort Dunlop" doesn't have the same kind of ring to it as "HollyWood". And what are drivers supposed to think when they see this sign?

From Locate Birmingham -

Prestigious Retail Hat Trick For Birmingham’s Iconic Fort Dunlop
August 2 2006


Hot on the heels of its first office tenant announcement, Urban Splash, the award-winning developer behind Fort Dunlop, has announced a prestigious retail hat trick for the iconic building.

Being redeveloped as a complete business park under one roof, the landmark has attracted the first three of several retail brands to open their doors this autumn within the inspirational commercial space.

Contemporary furniture and home accessories store, Dwell, has chosen Fort Dunlop as the home for its first retail outlet outside of London, with a 12,000 square foot ground floor space. As a major retail tenant at Fort Dunlop, Dwell will take the west elevation unit benefits from full glazing to all aspects, and looks out upon the striking blue 100-bed new hotel extension that has been let to Travelodge. Dwell will open later in 2006.

Relocating from the Custard Factory, the well established Snap Galleries is taking 2,000 square feet on the ground floor. Opening at the beginning of November, the space will be devoted to bringing together one of the world’s finest collections of iconic rock and roll photographs. Using a clean, light and contemporary design, it will make the most of the columned space within Fort Dunlop for its high quality portraits and regular exhibitions.

The Daily Grind Coffee Company is a Birmingham-based coffee outlet that will sell fine quality freshly hand ground coffee, smoothies, juices and light bites such as paninis and hand made cakes. A new venture, it will enjoy a 600 square foot unit on the ground floor, adjacent to the newly created atrium area. Opening before the end of the year, the flagship outlet will incorporate a contemporary retro look.

Fort Dunlop’s retail hat trick announcement comes just one week after it publicised Boxer as its first the first office tenant that will open its doors before the end of 2006. The UK’s fastest growing design consultancy, Boxer, and its sister company, The Marketing Store, are relocating from their Coleshill base to a second floor 7,674 square feet unit at the landmark building.

Nathan Cornish is Associate Director for Development at Urban Splash, “Fort Dunlop is an exciting design led scheme where the six upper floors are offices. The retail mix on ground floor is, therefore, incredibly important and is essential to complement the office space and the buildings design led emphasis.

“A quality coffee shop, a great furniture store and an exciting art gallery is exactly what we wanted so we are delighted that they have all signed. With space from just £10 per square foot and Fort Dunlop open for business this year there are plenty more announcements on their way.”

Emily Jones is Commercial Agency Surveyor, “It’s most unusual that we have retail outlets signing up so early on. It’s proof of the industry’s confidence in Fort Dunlop as a successful office, retail, leisure and lifestyle destination.”

She adds, “With Dwell, The Daily Grind Coffee Company and Snap Galleries all due to be opened by November and many more retail, leisure and lifestyle announcements imminent, Fort Dunlop’s future visitors, shoppers and 2,500 office tenants will be guaranteed a wide selection of quality places to eat, drink, shop, relax and unwind in. You can even sleep there now that the Hotel is open!”

Dwell
Founded in 2003 and sporting stores in Balham and Islington, Fort Dunlop will be the company’s third, and at 12,000 square feet, largest outlet. It will provide Midlanders with the first opportunity on their doorstep to see and feel the quality of Dwell’s products.

Aamir Ahmad is Founder and Managing Director of Dwell, “We very much see Dwell at Fort Dunlop as our regional flagship store. An icon it its own right, Fort Dunlop is an inspirational design-led development that forms the perfect location for our contemporary furniture and homewares. We’ve done our research, and with its perfect gateway location, Fort Dunlop provides an impressive mail order catchment area as well as a location that’s easy to reach and park at.”

Ahmad adds, “"We will be launching our brand new Autumn 06 collection at the store which has been fully designed and developed in house and is exclusive to Dwell. We hope to create the ultimate home shopping experience for style conscious Midlanders."

Snap Galleries
Snap Galleries is one of the only retail galleries in the world specializing exclusively in iconic rock and roll photography. The founder, Guy White, grew up in Sutton Coldfield and established the business in Birmingham in 2004, combining his twin passions of music and fine art photography.

Snap Galleries’ mission is to offer the very best work by the cream of the photographers operating in the music genre from the fifties to the present day, which people can buy, own and hang on their walls. It runs a series of regular exhibitions in Birmingham, typically featuring either one photographer, one genre, such as Punk and New Wave, or one subject, such as Bob Dylan, or the forthcoming exhibition on Bruce Springsteen.

As Gallery Director, it was White’s decision to relocate from the Custard Factory to Fort Dunlop, “Snap Galleries’ success has meant we’ve been looking for premises with a larger footplate. The flexibility offered at Fort Dunlop, in addition to the incredible value, high quality fit out and more than 1,150 free adjacent car parking spaces, coupled with the chance to be in the most talked about development in the country meant that it stood out loud and clear as the best option for Snap Galleries.”

White adds, “The move to Fort Dunlop gives us the opportunity to move the business to the next level and create a truly world class gallery space in the West Midlands.

Ultimately our goal is to be the world’s premier specialist photography gallery; Fort Dunlop is integral to our plans. We have a fast growing and loyal client base and it’s vital that we give them a real experience to remember. As a ‘destination’ retailer, I see my job very much as being to create a wow factor when anyone walks through the door. I can promise that in spades at Fort Dunlop, as we have some very exciting plans both for the look and feel of the interior and for the landmark exhibitions we have lined up.“

The Daily Grind Coffee Company
Whilst working as a photographer on cruise ships, Castle Bromwich man, Lee Thomas, would always make American style coffee shops his first port of call. With fine coffee one of his loves, Lee decided to start a business with his fiancée, Claire Mitton, providing the best quality cup of coffee on the doorstep of his home town.

Lee and Claire currently serve coffee at major shows and outdoor events from one of their two funky customised Vintage Volkswagon split screen vans.

Co-founder and Joint Managing Director, Thomas, is excited at the prospect of the 50-seater Daily Grind Coffee Company flagship store being at Fort Dunlop, ”Unlike many other anonymous high street coffee store brands, The Daily Grind Coffee Company is independently owned, serving delicious drinks and fabulous food with passion and friendliness.

“Being a highly individual brand, Fort Dunlop is the perfect location for us. Like our store, it’s going to be a unique, contemporary, funky, friendly and fun setting.”

Joint MD and co-founder, Mitton is similarly enthusiastic, “The Daily Grind Coffee Company will offer everything from detox smoothies to the naughtiest of cakes, and of course, our hand ground coffee, served by our fully trained baristas. We can’t wait to provide people with the best locally sourced produce in the sleekest of contemporary retro surroundings.”

The grand opening of Fort Dunlop has been set for December 2006, although tenants will be able to occupy from late autumn. The ground floor will offer retail and catering, whilst the rest of the building will provide high specification offices, leisure facilities, galleries and conference space, in addition to the Travelodge hotel which opened in the spring.

Adjacent to the M6 and at well over an acre per floor, Fort Dunlop offers the largest floor plates available outside of the M25. Space from 1,000 to 50,000+ square foot is available within the 350,000 square foot development. Occupiers will be able to enjoy the UK’s largest living grass roof and more than 1,000 car parking spaces, whilst guests can unwind in the retail and leisure on offer - and of course rest their head at night in the new striking hotel extension.

I really want to see iamges of how this is coming along. When I last drove past it, it looked like they were putting the windows on the inside of the stone structure and not in the original openings for the windows.

I love dwell, I'm stoked I dont have to pay their enormous delivery prices anymore Yay!

Going to be quite a high end part of Erdington with Dwell and the new Lambourghini & Bentley car showroom not too far from FD.

^^Might encourage better brands to the Fort. You never know, this time in 2 or 3 years, Versace might be opening their store at The Fort :D

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w21/jamespdavey/DSC_0018.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w21/jamespdavey/DSC_0020.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w21/jamespdavey/DSC_0023.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w21/jamespdavey/DSC_0026.jpg

Great pics jay! Are there any good shops? - if anyone has visited

Dwell, furniture and home accessories.

Snap Galleries, photography gallery.

Daily Grind Coffee Company, obvious really.

Duet Cuisine, Indian restuarant.

Funky Monkeys, nursery.

Leaf, salad and juice bar.

Poggenpohl, designer kitchens.

559 Active, sportswear.

The Flower Room, mmmmm.

Vinappris, wine bar.

Last time I drove past with the missus she didn't want to go in, so we didn't... So I can't say whether any of them are good or not but looking at what's there I can't see them being particularly shit.

Plus there's a Lamborghini showroom next door if you're feeling especially flush.

Dwell, Poggenpohl & Daily Grind are good. I would like to see a Daily Grind in town :)

There will be more shops than that wont there, also is the rest of the floors offices. And will the public be able to use the roof garden.

p.s. Someone told me this has not finished. Is this true.

The Birmingham Post & Mail are taking the whole of the top floor :)

Some photos of the basebuild for those who are interested :nuts:

http://i30.tinypic.com/2d9tz5g.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/n657cy.jpg

http://i31.tinypic.com/11t7ib5.jpg

http://i29.tinypic.com/2zp6o1u.jpg

Thanks for the pics, but I thought this was open

It is open! They just haven't let that bit of floorspace. Or the new tenants haven't moved in yet.

Thanks for the pictures. :)

I've been doing some work on this suite which is due to be fitted out

Did you get any shots of the Bromford Bridge tower blocks from there, just out of interest? :)

No sorry, I was more interested in floorbox positions and riser cupboards. If I'm back there again I'll get you some shots :okay:

Aah yes, riser cupboards. Enticing things, aren't they! ;) Cheers!

Sorry, another, just doing a needed service.

I've been doing some work on this suite which is due to be fitted out

Is it for a Birmingham based service company?

i was also dissapointed by fort dunlop, cycled up to have a look today but could'nt go inside as know where to chain my bike to, no sighns, railings, fenses, bike racks. nothing.

Yes, CPIO. Capita are taking the whole of the top floor but Systems by Design are doing that one.

A couple from this evening over in Bromford, not turned out as good as I'd like due to the rain:ohno:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010495.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g151/iceman14141414/P1010498.jpg

only got one, got kiked off. private property again.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t279/GrAfiK248/IMG_1753.jpg

only got one, got kiked off. private property again.



:pet: It's a great pic anyhow :)

Crackin shot GrAfik. No matter how many times I look at it, I still think that Travelodge is mad - in a good way though. :nuts:

thanks:)

^^ that travelodge does make a massive difference to the building. the blue works so well.

Looks like Fort Dunlop is Building Magazines Project of the Year. There is video on the building website page too.


Project of the Year 2008

Fort Dunlop
18 March, 2008

An old tyre factory lives again, with a trendy makeover that’s drawn the creative industries to the outskirts of Birmingham

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=607&storycode=3109159

What shops are actually in this building, anythink decent. And are the public allowed to go up to the roof garden?

I don't think anyone is allowed on to the roof garden. It is more of a little nature reserve as opposed to a garden. It is intended to attract birds and other small organisms to the roof to compensate for them being displaced by the scheme.

dwell, poggenpohl and the daily grind coffee shop are the only ones I've been to

Thanks for the updates .

Royal opening for Birmingham Post's Fort Dunlop offices
Apr 13 2009 Birmingham Post

The Princess Royal is to formally open the Birmingham Post’s new offices at Fort Dunlop.

Princess Anne is to visit BPM Media (Midlands) next month.

She will tour the Post and our sister titles, including the Birmingham Mail and Sunday Mercury, on Tuesday May 26.

BPM Media (Midlands) moved to the iconic Fort Dunlop building during October and November last year.

Our £8 million relocation package included investment in state-of-the-art computer systems, enabling us to bring you up-to-the-minute news from the Midlands and beyond, using the latest multi-media packages.

Princess Anne is the latest member of the Royal Family to give us their seal of approval.

In October 1965 her late aunt, the Countess of Snowdon, Princess Margaret, opened the Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd offices at Colmore Circus in the city centre, hailed at the time as Britain’s most modern newspaper centre.

And the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, visited our former printing presses at Weaman Street in May 1968.

BPM Media (Midlands) Managing Director John Griffith said: “We are really delighted that Princess Anne is to open our new state-of-the-art offices.

“The company has proud historical Royal links. Princess Margaret opened the Weaman Street site in October 1965.

“And the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip visited the presses there in May 1968.

“The staff have worked so hard to achieve the successful relocation and have fitted in fantastically well with the new environment.

“It should be a really nice day for them.

“We have got around 500 people working here at Fort Dunlop in our near 24-hour news operation.

“Around £8 million was invested in the move and in new systems.

“We are now seen as one of the world’s leading multi-media newsrooms.

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2009/04/13/royal-opening-for-birmingham-post-s-fort-dunlop-offices-65233-23373035/

I surprised there are that many people working there. Have they got more than one floor?