It's been a good, strong start to 2022 in Poland's office market, which offers hope that a long-awaited boom in demand is coming after a market slump. Companies have adapted to the new working conditions, and due to the easing of restrictions related to the covid-19 pandemic, they have launched a campaign to encourage employees back into offices. On the other hand, Warsaw and the eight largest regional markets, i.e., Kraków, Wrocław, Tricity, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin, and Lublin, may face a slowdown in new supply in the coming months. AXI IMMO looks at the current trends after Q1 2022 in the office market and analyses what will influence its development in the following months of the year.

Korean logistics company Unico Logistics has leased 11,250 sqm of space in the newly built hall at BIK Park Wrocław. The investment carried out by Biuro Inwestycji Kapitałowych near Wrocław will provide a total of 22,500 sqm of modern warehouse space. The commissioning of the ready-made facility is planned for September this year. The offer also includes free warehouse modules for rent.

EPP has finalised the sale of its 70% stake in the Towarowa 22 mixed-use project in Warsaw to AFI Europe. It is historically one of the largest land transactions in Poland in terms of value, with the total plot value exceeding €180 million.

Fidurock, the Czech/Dutch company that owns Retail Park Trnava, has started to build phase II of the project, which is located in Western Slovakia, 44 km northeast of Bratislava. The extension of this retail park is planned to be completed by the end of this year.

The number of completed flats in Slovakia has fallen year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022.  Construction around Bratislava has also been on a downward trend for several quarters. However, three Slovak regions report the opposite trend with a dynamic increase in the number of completed apartments. The recovery can be observed in the number of flats under construction, according to data from the Statistical Office of Slovakia, reality.trend.sk reports.

Data is key for the execution of a successful ESG strategy, according to the first panel discussion at the European ESG Property Forum conference in Warsaw where leading investors, bankers and advisors provided insight into the topic.

Immofinanz was informed by its primary shareholder CPI Property Group that CPIPG has decided not to support a proposal to the upcoming ordinary shareholders’ meeting of Immofinanz for the distribution of a dividend for the financial year 2021.

LPP, the biggest clothes manufacturing company in Central and Eastern Europe and owner of the Reserved, Mohito, House, Cropp, and Sinsay brands, is implementing Singu FM, a facility and maintenance management software from Velis Real Estate Tech. The system will be deployed across the LPP’s brand sales network of over 1,600 stores in 20 countries.

EPP, the largest asset manager of retail real estate in Poland, implemented a sustainable development strategy in 2021. The company aims to conduct its business in a responsible and transparent way while reducing its environmental impact and strengthening its social commitment. Following the strategy, EPP has set targets for the years 2022-2025 and is launching its first report, giving its ESG achievements to date the framework of GRI international reporting and EPRA standards.

YIT has started construction of the Happi Milánská project in Prague's Horní Měcholupy and has put 72 new Finnish-style apartments of up to 99 sqm on sale. The residential building with access to both the countryside and the city centre will also include three commercial spaces. The developer plans completion in spring 2024.