Pictured above: Rob Alston

Solihull's Mell Square shopping centre has been reinventing itself this year as the home of the town's quality independent retailers.

The shopping centre - which has seen modern neighbour Touchwood establish itself as the main location for the High Street fashion giants - has fought back because retailers basing themselves there are making huge savings on overheads, says Rob Alston, retail partner of Cushman & Wakefield.

They are also joining other high quality niche independents, whose presence tended to complement each other, he added.

Cushman & Wakefield have just finalised the letting of a unit at Mell Square's Drury Lane to designer children's wear retailer Bratz. The company has moved from Touchwood to take over 1,000 sq ft (93 sq m) 20 Drury Lane.

Bratz is the fifth such letting at Mell Square this year completed by Cushman & Wakefield. Others include Walnut and Weave, a home wares and furniture store which has taken over 2,000 sq ft (186 sq m) at 32-34 Mill Lane, and Aspire Style, which has moved into 1,000 sq ft of space at nearby 26-28 Mill Lane. 

Aspire specialises in ladies' accessories and giftwear, and has three other shops in the Midlands. Another recent letting, this time in Drury Lane, has been to exclusive fashion retailer Serene Order, who, like Bratz, have relocated from Touchwood. Serene Order has taken 1,000 sq ft of space.

The final letting of the fifth - to fashion retailer TK Maxx - was announced a fortnight ago. TK Maxx has taken 15,000 sq ft (1,394 sq m) over two floors at 4-8 Mell Square.

Rob Alston said that the number of independents moving to Mell Square this year had been encouraging. He said that the shopping centre was already home to a variety of larger retailers, including Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser, Boots, BHS and Argos.

"Mell Square is a home for prime retailers, but also quality retailers in affordable secondary locations," he said.

"There is a definite trend here - the new arrivals are mostly lifestyle retailers, and a couple of them have relocated from Touchwood.

"In doing so, they have reduced their overheads by 50-60 per cent, which is obviously very significant. We are actively trying to get more of these lifestyle companies to relocate in Mell Square."