City News

Redeveloped as an inspirational commercial space by award-winning developer, Urban Splash, Birmingham’s landmark Fort Dunlop has today announced who will be opening its doors as its first office tenant this October.

Fittingly for a building whose reinvention has been design-led, the first tenant to open will be the UK’s fastest growing design consultancy, Boxer, and its sister company, The Marketing Store. Boxer’s clients include Levi’s, Stella Artois and McDonald’s.

Taking 7,674 square feet, the award-winning consultancy is relocating from its Coleshill base to enjoy the benefits offered by Fort Dunlop: a gateway location, iconic building, free parking and high quality office space for just £10 per square foot.

With five months to go to practical completion, another 40,000 square feet is in solicitor’s hands, with further announcements expected shortly.

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.

Boxer’s first encounter with the scheme was in 2004, when it was appointed by Urban Splash to create the identity for Fort Dunlop. It has also designed the brochure and website for the development and is now working on the scheme’s final signage. Having learnt more about how the iconic building was being developed into contemporary office, retail and leisure space, Boxer was determined Fort Dunlop would be its new world class home.

David Poole, Managing Director of Boxer, says, “We’ve had an amazing couple of years, and it is now time that the environment in which we work reflects the creativity and quality of our business. Everyone who drives along the M6 will be familiar with Fort Dunlop – its imminent emergence from the scaffolding will once again ensure it is the dominant building in the area. This is a major step for us, and reflects the confidence we have that Boxer will continue to develop beyond its existing client base.”

Nathan Cornish is Associate Director for Development at Urban Splash, “I think it’s fantastic that Boxer is going to be Fort Dunlop’s first office tenant. When they began designing the brochure and website it was clear that they were starting to fall in love with the Fort Dunlop – they won’t be the last! So it’s no real surprise to me that they are the first to open their doors. They have some really exciting fit out plans that I’m looking forward to seeing.”

With an increasing amount of space already under offer, more tenant announcements are expected soon.

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.

More details on Fort Dunlop can be found at www.fortdunlop.com. More details on Urban Splash can be found at www.urbansplash.co.uk. Lettings are being managed by GVA Grimley on 0121 236 8236 and DTZ Debenham Tie Leung on 0121 200 2050 and Urban Splash on 07000 70 40 40.