Real estate developer Ionuț Negoiță acquired a land plot of 10 hectares in eastern Bucharest from industrial company Tubinox. The real estate investor says that this part of the city holds significant potential for the real estate industry.  

Facility services provider ISS has exited the Romanian market as part of a regional transaction that includes three more Eastern Europe countries. ISS said that the divestments are in line with the company’s strategy to simplify and focus its business on key account customers. 

In Świdnik, near Lublin, a cross-docking terminal of around 5,165 sqm was constructed and has now completed its BREEAM certification with a rating of ‘Very Good’. The centre is partially powered with electricity from renewable energy sources and with the application of sustainable solutions CO2 emissions have been reduced by around 30 pct and water usage has been cut by 67 pct. Almost PLN 50 mln has been invested in the project.

CEE-based flex office operator New Work continues to expand in Hungary and has opened its 7th business centre in Budapest. The company has signed for 2,000 sqm of office space in the Science Park office building in South Buda.

In February 2021, the N3 building of GTC’s Green Heart office complex in Belgrade has obtained a LEED Gold certificate, thus finalising the certification process for the whole complex. Completed in 2020, Green Heart comprises five Class A buildings providing 46,300 sqm of office space.

The market for mortgage loans was dynamic in 2020 and this trend is continuing in early 2021, while the segment of consumer loans is narrowing, says Sergiu Oprescu, President of the Association of Romanian Banks (ARB). 

Last year, international law firm Kinstellar played a vital part in closing two of the largest transactions on the office market in Romania: Floreasca Park, sold to Resolution Property (member of the Fosun Group) and Zeus Capital for more than €100 million and two Class A office buildings owned by Skanska sold to S Immo for €97 million. This was in addition to a series of deals in logistics and other asset classes. Property Forum talked to Victor Constantinescu, Managing Partner of the Bucharest office and Co-Head of the firm-wide Real Estate Practice, about how the first year of the pandemic was and what’s next.

Pavăl Holding, the group controlled by the founders of DIY chain Dedeman, will have a new HQ in Bucharest. The holding is revamping Vila Hlebnikian that will serve as its main office. Construction works on the 2,800 sqm building will be completed by 2023, according to Profit.ro.   

WDP Romania, the developer and owner of industrial and logistics spaces, has received the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency (EDGE) certification for its local stock of warehouses. EDGE was created by IFC, part of the World Bank. It helps property owners and developers build and operate green buildings in a fast and affordable way. The certifications apply to WDP warehouses ranging from 2,500 sqm to more than 60,000 sqm. 

House prices in Romania went up by 2% in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter of the previous year, while across the European Union (EU) the average growth rate was 5.7%, according to Eurostat.