In 2022, the Polish office market recorded a strong performance in terms of demand for office space which came predominantly from the financial, IT and business services sectors. Meanwhile, development activity slowed down amid rising construction costs and the deteriorating economic backdrop. This will result in a ‘supply gap’ in the largest regional city office markets and Warsaw alike, says Cushman & Wakefield in its latest report.

The Czech industrial market grew at a rapid speed in 2022. Almost 1.1 million sqm of new space was added to the market, which is over 155% of the 5-year average annually completed space and the highest recorded figure on record for the Czech market. The market overtook 10 million sqm in mid-year and just failed to overtake the 11 million sqm milestone at year-end, achieving 10.8 million sqm at the end of Q4 2022. There was 150,300 sqm of newly added modern industrial space in the last quarter, Colliers says in their latest report.

CA Immo has concluded 45 lease agreements with a total of nearly 29,000 sqm of office space in Warsaw in the past year, 20% of which in the fourth quarter of 2022. Based on the Group's international net zero initiative, the company has also introduced a green lease initiative in 2022, governing mutual commitment of landlord and tenant to optimize sustainable building operations. Since May 2022, 23 green lease agreements have already been concluded.

In 2022, the Warsaw office market recorded one of the highest levels of demand in history at over 860,000 sqm, with its structure including a preponderance of new leases and relocations, as well as expansions over renegotiations. According to the consulting firm Savills, despite the fact that nominal rents are stable and rising mainly due to indexation, service charges, which represent an increasing proportion of the total rental costs.

The Polish branch of Cushman & Wakefield advisory agency is reorganizing and expanding its service in the field of defining, achieving and reporting ESG objectives. Its ESG Hub of experts from various business lines will be led by Katarzyna Lipka, Head of Strategic Consulting and Research, in partnership with Ilona Otoka, Senior ESG Consultant. The ESG Hub will deliver and expand its services for Cushman & Wakefield’s clients in cooperation with the firm’s global network of ESG and sustainability specialists.

Market Group has appointed Ákos Kiss as Managing Director of Property Market, the development firm of the group. He has been working at the company since 2015 and before his appointment worked as Director of Sales, Marketing and Communication. 

Alicja Kuczera, CEO of the Polish Green Building Council (PLGBC) talked to Property Forum about the impact of the energy crisis on the local property market, the development of a circular economy and environmental awareness in Poland.

WE RENT Bucharest, the first residential rental platform in Romania under the Vitan Estate brand, has appointed its Board of Directors at the beginning of this year. Kimberly Vrânceanu was named President of the Council, and Violeta Niculae is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Director of the platform. 

The end of the year for retail real estate in Poland was marked by a rise in inflation and the various consequences that followed it, increases in energy prices and the effects of the war in Ukraine.

With 17 new brands entering the Romanian market in 2022 and the opening of 11 new retail parks, the total stock of retail projects came close to 4.1 million sqm. On this backdrop, new opportunities appear in the market for developers as the available commercial spaces are mostly rented and the vacancy rate is 3% in malls and even lower in retail parks, according to CBRE.