Whether it is because spring is in the air, but it seems shopping centres are on everyone's shopping list.

The demand reinforces the trend that malls are now morphing into town centres and as a result, landlords are keen to acquire new sites and redevelop their existing portfolios.

Most shopping centres now have plans, where land is available, to build either hotels, apartments, student digs, medical centres and even education outlets, to make a mall the centre of action in a suburb. This is where the growth will come from, not necessarily the traditional fashion and department store tenants.

Adding value from new developments is the key going forward for a retail landlord.

According to Simon Rooney, JLL's head of retail investment, Australasia, said there is a depth of institutional investor interest in strong performing sub-regional shopping centres, especially for assets in growth corridors, with opportunities for value add.

He said the sub-regional sector has continued its record level of activity, with $1.7 billion in transactions in 2016 year-to-date, building on the $2.8 billion in 2015, which was a record high for the Australian market.

Charter Hall, Vicinity Centres and GPT Group have been the most active this week with a range of new deals and projects announced and proposed.

Brokers have put outperform ratings on the sector due to the additional revenue that will be generated from the redevelopment programs.

Charter Hall has been the busiest, paying $197 million for the Campbelltown Mall in Sydney's west for a half share of the Coles' headquarters – albeit an office block – in East Hawthorn, Melbourne for $140.5 million.

The Campbelltown Mall will be the seed asset for the new Charter Hall retail wholesale fund, in which MTAA Super is a partner, while it is tipped the Coles office will go into the planned Long WALE REIT, which floats next month.

On Thursday, the Melbourne doyen of retail landlords, billionaire John Gandel sold down his 19.12 per cent stake in Charter Hall and 5.65 per cent in Charter Hall Retail REIT, to raise just over $500 million.

Mr Gandel took advantage of the two trusts being at a premium to their net tangible asset values and he will use the cash towards future development at Chadstone shopping centre, in which he owns 50 per cent with Vicinity, and his well-known philanthropic activities.

Chadstone this week revealed its latest new stage and has plans for even bigger things in the future.

Charter Hall's managing director Davis Harrison has said he wants to focus on larger convenience based non-discretionary centres in high growth regions. This is seen as a hint that the group's retail wholesale fund and the listed REIT will become more active in this sector.

GPT Group has seen the value in the sector and has earmarked $2.1 billion in development across its retail portfolio.

This, too, includes new mixed use additions to malls, such as hotels and apartments and expanded food courts.

While no details are forthcoming, the group has released a slide showing what it could do at its Sydney Olympic Park site, which will rival the major works at its Rouse Hill Town Centre.

In Melbourne, its Highpoint Shopping Centre and Melbourne Central are the focus for redevelopment.