In Q1 2017 a total of 970,000 sqm was leased on the warehouse market in Poland, 42% more than in Q1 2016. Developers put into operation 475,000 sqm and over 1.4 million sqm are under construction. Results for the first quarter of 2017 allow optimistic forecasts for the coming months according to AXI IMMO’s latest report.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is participating in the acquisition of Żabka, one of Poland’s leading food retailers, with an equity investment of up to €25 million.

HB Reavis has started the construction of the Stanica Nivy project in Bratislava. The Nivy Tower office building is the first to be built and is destined to become a landmark with the highest point reaching 125 metres.  The remaining construction of the scheme, which will include a new supra regional shopping centre, a modern marketplace and international bus terminal, will be launched in the summer.

CTP continued its expansion on the Hungarian market through the acquisition of Rozália Park, a 57,800 sqm logistics scheme directly adjacent the M1 motorway to the west of Budapest. The seller was Challenger. 

There is currently 1.66 million sqm of office space under development in Poland, of which 965,000 is located outside Warsaw. Historically, this is the highest construction activity registered on Poland's regional markets, JLL reports. During the first three months of 2017, companies signed lease agreements for 371,700 sqm of office space, of which 177,700 sqm was leased on markets outside Warsaw. 

Skanska has launched the construction works of the second building of its Spark office complex in the Wola district of Warsaw. It will provide 18,000 sqm of modern office space and will be located at Serek Wolski. This ten-floor building, which will be developed during the II phase of Spark, will be delivered to market in Q1 2019.

On behalf of its clients, CBRE Global Investors has bought Prologis Park Ostrava from Prologis for an undisclosed sum. The 65,910 sqm complex, comprising two buildings, on the D1 motorway has now been renamed Ostrava Logistics Park. It is fully leased to five tenants.

Over time, some office locations enhance their position in the eyes of tenants while others – lose popularity. The reason for this change usually results from communication infrastructure as its development can create new business regions. JLL has taken a closer look at tenants’ preferences regarding office locations on major Polish markets based on concluded lease agreements. The company focused solely on new deals – excluding renewals of already existing contracts and expansions – signed in Warsaw (in 2012 and 2016), and Kraków, Wrocław, Tri-City, Katowice, Poznań and Łódź (in 2011 and 2016).

Reconstruction works on the former HQ of the Budapest Stock Exchange and the Hungarian Television are planned to start at the beginning of 2018 with a budget of €38 million. The 100-year-old building will be reborn as Exchange Palace, an office building with approximately 31,700 sqm of GLA:

Panattoni Europe is building a production facility for Reuss Seifert, German-based supplier of components for the construction industry. The facility featuring in excess of 30,000 sqm is going up in Nowa Sól, at the Kostrzyn-Słubice Special Economic Zone. The contract was mediated by CBRE.