Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull secured over 75,500sq ft of new lettings and lease renewals during its first year under new ownership and management.
Following the acquisition of Touchwood by The Ardent Companies UK (“Ardent UK”) in summer 2021 – the first major retail transaction since the start of the pandemic, effectively calling the shopping centre investment market – some 43,663sq ft of new lettings have been secured, alongside lease renewals totalling 31,863sq ft. The strategy, devised and implemented by Ardent UK and appointed asset manager Sovereign Centros, has driven Touchwood’s occupancy rate to 96.32 per cent, compared to 91.2 per cent on acquisition.
Notable new retailers at Touchwood include watchmaker Tag Heuer, Polestar electric cars, premium appliance manufacturer Miele and Dutch cosmetics brand Rituals. They join existing retailers such as John Lewis – the partnership’s only West Midlands store is at Touchwood – Zara, Next and River Island.
The centre’s food and beverage offer has been similarly expanded, with chains such as The Real Greek and independent operators including Alioli and Café Artari joining a dining line-up that already featured the likes of Five Guys, Wagamama, Pret a Manger and Nando’s.
