The metamorphosis of the Marynarska Business Park office complex implemented in Warsaw’s Służewiec district by PineBridge Benson Elliot and Syrena Real Estate is nearing completion. Work has been finalised on the outdoor area, replacing a 6,000 sqm concrete car park with a green park open to the city, covered with green hills. The project is changing its name to Diuna.

Older buildings are making way for new ones, and the trend of redeveloping plots in the centres of large cities in Poland is intensifying. Furthermore, the plans include not only new development projects that arise after demolitions but also transforming existing office buildings into residential projects, including those in PRS (Private Rented Sector) formula, says Avison Young Polska. 

European businesses have for years been shifting manufacturing to remote locations, targeting Asia Pacific in particular. Recent global turmoil has, however, disrupted supply chains, revealing the length and complexity of processes enabling the sourcing, transport and consumption of various products. Furthermore, the growing significance of sustainability is compelling companies to rethink their business strategies. This is naturally shifting the focus of business to nearshoring and… to Poland. Cushman & Wakefield estimates that warehouse occupancy and operating costs in Poland are even over 50% lower than in some Western European countries.

Fit-out company COS has launched the Research & Development (R&D) workspace centre Masia in northern Bucharest, following an investment of €1.6 million.  

Brokers report a 30% drop in inquiries for purchasing a new home in Sofia. On an annual basis, the decrease in concluded deals is 15 %.

Business and leisure travel is back in CEE, including Hungary, which makes investments more profitable than it was expected a year ago. Property Forum asked Silvija Lovreta, Senior Director of South Eastern Europe - International Hotel Development at Marriott International about the extensive development pipeline and ways the company meets environmental challenges. On behalf of Marriott's local partner for the development of the first Moxy hotel in Budapest, Forestay Group, Bálint Botos also commented on a few questions.

The Slovak government has approved the Ministry of Economy's proposal to allocate €21 million to prepare three industrial parks in Slovakia through MH Invest.

Sierra Balmain has published its first ESG report. Among its achievements, the company highlights e.g., reducing electricity consumption by 40% in managed facilities, implementing projects designed to benefit local communities, as well as an effective equal opportunities policy in its own organization.

Real estate developer Speedwell has purchased a new land plot in Timișoara, where the company plans to start the construction of its second mixed-use project in the city. The value of the transaction was not made public.

Green certificates were something sufficient years ago, but in the present market reality, they fail to cover the social and governance parts of the ESG principles. Some of them are also seriously outdated – this is how one can summarize a panel discussion on developments at last month's European ESG Property Forum 2023 in Warsaw.