Romania ranks 6th in the top destinations in the data centres market in Europe, while the Nordics and the Netherlands occupy the first positions, according to Savills’ new Data Centre Investment Index. The number of data centres is multiplying to accommodate the surging demand for data storage. Thus, the need to have smaller scale domestic facilities to comply with data and privacy laws is set to lead to an uptick in activity across all of Europe.

AFI Europe Romania broke ground this month on AFI City, the first large-scale residential project to be developed by the company in Romania. TGC was assigned as the general contractor for the first phase of the project.

Revetas, a specialist real estate investment manager focusing on the CEE region, together with funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, announced it has acquired TriGranit from TPG Real Estate, the real estate platform of global alternative asset firm TPG. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Immofinanz has sold two plots of land managed by Adama, a developer part of theImmofinanz group, to Speedwell Real Estate Development. The buyer plans to expand its residential and office development portfolio in the northern part of Bucharest. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

In mid-June, international property developer HB Reavis announced the completion of a major real estate deal. The developer sold its office property Metronom Business Center located in Prague-Butovice to ČS nemovitostní fond, managed by Česká spořitelna’s REICO investiční společnost, for a sum of €89.2 million (CZK 2.3 billon). JLL advised HB Reavis on the sale.

Cromwell Property Group has sold the Čestlice Business Park in Prague-East for €17.5 million to an undisclosed buyer.

Panattoni Europe commenced the construction of a new distribution centre near Warsaw. Completion of the first part of the investment is anticipated in February 2019. The lease transaction was mediated by the advisory firm JLL.

TriGranit launched the construction of its new Class A office development, Millennium Gardens, which is the final element of the Millennium City Center in Budapest. After its expected completion in 2020, the two-winged office complex, will provide approx. 37,000 sqm GLA and more than 600 parking spaces for tenants, greatly emphasizing today’s employee and tenant needs. In 2018-2019, the company is working on the launch of four office developments in Central Europe. As for its size, Millennium Gardens is one of the biggest office development project in Budapest to be handed over till 2020. Within the coming 12 months, TriGranit plans the start of the construction of 77,000 sqm GLA office space in Central Europe.

In recent weeks, JLL has participated in three large-scale investment transactions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. These were strategic acquisitions of Wood & Company's real estate fund (the real estate arm of investment group Wood & Company), which recently acquired three premium office buildings.

Park Inn by Radisson announced the reopening of the Park Inn by Radisson Danube Bratislava in Slovakia - after an extensive renovation over the last two years. The hotel is located in the heart of the historic centre, near to Bratislava Castle and the Danube River.