The Hungarian construction industry started off this year with an exceptionally high Activity Start indicator: nearly HUF 1,300 billion worth of construction works started in Q1 2022. The Activity Start of EBI Construction Activity Report in the first quarter is a new record (construction works have never started in such a high value in one quarter) and exceeded the level of Q2 2021 (the highest so far) by almost 37%. Yet, this spike is mainly thanks to the launch of two major infrastructure projects, according to the EBI Construction Activity Report, prepared by Buildecon, Eltinga (creation of indicators and development of algorithms for aggregation) and iBuild (project research and project database).

Investment group DRFG has acquired land near the main railway station in Olomouc (the eastern province of Moravia in the Czech Republic) in March this year and plans to build flats and commercial premises there. It plans to build a multifunctional residential complex with retail space and offices on this brownfield site with a total market value of CZK 2.6 billion and an area of 43,000 sqm by 2025. The architectural design of the complex is currently being finalised. DRFG Group informed about its new acquisition and construction plans in a press release today.

Imobiliare, the digital platform in Romania owned by Ringier Group, has taken over mortgage broker DSA Advisor in a bid to diversify its portfolio, for an undisclosed sum.

Property developer Hagag Development Europe will invest over €20 million in H Primăverii 1, a new residential project comprising 18 apartments and 700 sqm of commercial spaces.

Many office developers expect to see a supply gap in Warsaw over the next few years and some are ready to take advantage of this opportunity. Jeroen van der Toolen, Managing Director – CEE at Ghelamco talked to Property Forum about the changes in the Polish office market, the incoming supply gap and the company`s interest in the PRS sector.

The fifth stage of the Bory Housing residential project is being prepared in the newly emerging Bory district in the northwest of Bratislava. This week the documentation for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was submitted. At the same time, documents for obtaining a zoning decision are being prepared. The fifth stage will bring 366 apartments to the site with construction expected to start in the first half of 2024, the developer announced this week.

Real estate advisory firm Savills has been appointed as property manager for Sky Tower, the tallest building in Wrocław, acquired by Adventum Group in March 2022. Savills previously advised on the acquisition of the property.

7R has finalized the sale of a portfolio of several projects to CTP Group. The portfolio includes projects in the development phase, such as in Warsaw and Katowice, as well as others throughout Poland which are in the pre-development phase.

Passerinvest Group is starting the construction of a new seven-storey office building in Prague 4. The Roztyly Plaza building close to the bus terminal and metro station is to be completed in 2024, the developer announced.

David Ebbrell, CEO and Mirta Ceranac Poljak, Managing Director for Croatia at M7 Real Estate talked to Property Forum at MIPIM about investment strategy, economic challenges and opportunities for sustainable growth.