Lease transactions in the Bratislava office market in the fourth quarter of 2022 reached a total area of 54,532 sqm, which represents around a 41% increase in leasing activity compared to the previous quarter, the Bratislava Research Forum reports.

Despite many negative factors, Q4 2022 showed that the economy in Slovakia should grow by 1.8% in 2022. Energy prices were stabilized, inflation peaked and we could see the increase in yields. The Slovak industrial sector remained once more the most resilient real estate segment and experienced very solid performance in 2022. In the same period, the lack of new supply resulted in lowered vacancies in offices. Overall retail park projects dominate both this year’s new supply and future retail development with limited space for larger retail schemes due to high saturation. Cushman & Wakefield published its market reports for Q4 2022.

The volume of industrial and logistics projects slated for delivery in Romania this year will reach at least 510,000 sqm, compared with 875,000 sqm in 2022, according to data from JLL Romania. 

The number of property deals and the volumes transacted plunged in Q4 2022 in comparison to the final quarter of 2021 in major EMEA markets due to higher interest rates and financing costs amid surging inflation. However, property investment will resume its growth path this year, as the inflation and interest rates become more stable, says Colliers.

According to Michael Klien from WIFO (the Austrian Euroconstruct member institute), 2022 was the second year of recovery for the European construction industry after the outbreak of the pandemic. The year-on-year growth rates of 3% were, however, much lower than in 2021 (+5.8%) owing to the sharp rise in construction costs, Euroconstruct reports in its latest press release.

Panattoni has started a new development in the Łódź region: Panattoni Park Łódź South II, which will eventually comprise an area of 57,000 sqm. The centre is to be located near the junction on the A1 motorway that joins with national road 12. 

7R has leased the entire space in the first stage of 7R Park Bydgoszcz. Thus, the complex is being prepared for expansion.

Romanian proptech company BrightSpaces has appointed Mike Hapoianu as MENA Regional Manager as part of the firm’s expansion strategy. 

YIT has completed the Koti Libeň residential project in Prague 8, which includes 140 apartments, two studios and one commercial space. The last apartment is currently available for purchase. YIT announced that new residents will be able to move in in the second quarter of this year.

The upward trend in prime rents continues across European industrial and logistics projects due to steady demand for space, according to Garbe Research. The average rental growth for the main markets stood at €0.40 per sqm.