This spring the Iulius Company will start the construction works for three new Class A office buildings within the Openville Timişoara mixed-use project, located in the vicinity of Iulius Mall. The three buildings to be developed under the United Business Center (UBC) brand add up to a total area of 73,000 sqm and shall be ready to use within a 12 to 18 months’ term.

Panattoni Europe announced the completion of an investment for Sanden Manufacturing Poland. The facility features close to 6,5000 sqm of warehouse space and was built in Polkowice, next to the existing manufacturing plant. The lease was signed for 12 years.

The amount of industrial space leased in key Central and Eastern European markets in 2016 was the largest ever recorded, totalling 5.7 million sqm. This represents a 25% increase over the preceding two years when about 4.5 million sqm was leased. The strong take-up among tenants was linked with an extensive new development at 2.2 million sqm. The findings are based on the research conducted by Cushman & Wakefield, which has been monitoring the industrial property market in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia over an extended period.

Cushman & Wakefield has been selected to act as property manager for the Grójecka Offices building currently under construction in Warsaw’s Ochota district. The new office building located at 206 Grójecka street will comprise 7 400 sqm of Class A office space and it will be completed in Q2 2017.

Panattoni Europe is developing a fifth logistics centre for Amazon. The new facility featuring 135,000 sqm is being built in Sosnowiec in the region of Upper Silesia. Completion of the project is planned for October 2017.

Poland remains the powerhouse of Central and Eastern Europe attracting close to half the capital invested in the region over 2016 as activity grew 5% over the year to €5.2 billion. According to Cushman & Wakefield, with the uncertainty around upcoming elections in major European countries and the ongoing Brexit challenges, Poland and the CEE region will maintain their strong position as a focus for any pan-European investment strategy.

Orbis has concluded a preliminary agreement for the sale of two Polish hotels, Mercure Jelenia Góra and Mercure Karpacz Resort for a total net price of app. €6.1 million (PLN26.5 million) to an individual investor.

CTP broke ground on its first Polish development in the city of Opole. Initially a 13,000 sqm facility will be built for a long-term client, International Automotive Components.  With additional land available, the park has a planned built-up area of nearly 71,000 sqm.

Skanska Property Czech Republic is expanding its portfolio by completing the acquisition of a plot with a former car repair shop from M2 Real Estate Group, located in the Karlín area of Prague. Skanska plans to build a modern office building called Praga Studios on the property.

Peakside Capital has completed the acquisition of Argo Alpha, a Prague office building comprising 12,600 sqm of GLA. The transaction price has not been disclosed.