Fort Dunlop, Erdington

Image: © David Dixon Taken: 17 Dec 2012

The Fort Dunlop factory was built in 1916 as the original tyre factory and main office of Dunlop Rubber. At one time it was the world's largest factory, employing 3,200 workers. In the 1970s it was still the largest tyre factory outside the United States, however, the increased number of foreign cars imported into Britain led to a decline in demand and, when the company was sold in the 1980s, large-scale tyre production ceased at Fort Dunlop. The development company Urban Splash acquired the building in 1999 and the building, derelict for twenty years (with the exterior used as advertising space), has been redeveloped into an office and retail space with an adjoining Travelodge hotel. Work on the redevelopment commenced in December 2004. Fort Dunlop is a Grade A locally listed building.

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