BPO/SSC take-up totalled over 60% of all-sector office take-up in 4 key BPO cities (Wroclaw, Lodz, Krakow and Sofia) in H1 2017. Vacant stock is diminishing, due to this demand impulse and strong general economic conditions. Labour availability and employee tech knowhow uplift are significant factors which influence the demand for space, according to a report by Colliers International. The key findings of the report include:

RICS presented its new Board of Members in the Czech Republic, who will operate under the chairmanship of William Bucknell MRICS, Managing Director of Flow East Real Estate, one of the largest private investors in the Czech Republic.

TK Development has received the construction permit for building Outlet Arena Moravia. It will rise in the vicinity of the centre of Ostrava, lying immediately adjacent to the D1 Motorway, on a vacant lot in Hlucinska Street (in the proximity of two traffic arteries, with approximately 60,000 vehicles passing every day).

Cushman & Wakefield signed a strategic partnership agreement with Polish start-up ShareSpace, recognizing the rapid growth of modern coworking office space for start-ups and SMEs, and changing office lease preferences of large corporations. Both partners will work together to further their expansion and promote technological and commercial solutions for flexible office leases.

NEPI Rockcastle’s wholly-owned subsidiary, NEPC has priced a €500 million unsecured 7 year Eurobond maturing on 23 November 2024, carrying a 1.75% fixed coupon, with an issue price of 99.051%. At this level, the book was oversubscribed. S&P and Fitch assigned the Bond a BBB rating, in line with the corporate rating.

Panattoni Europe has completed the construction of another e-commerce logistics centre for Amazon. The facility with total useful floor area of 161,500 sqm was erected in Kołbaskowo, near Szczecin. More than 3,000 robots have been put in place to support the employees, using Amazon Robotics technology. The investment was developed to comply with the requirements of BREEAM environmental certification.

The Warsaw office market maintains its strong momentum. This year’s total supply is expected to surpass 300,000 sqm, office take-up rose in the first three quarters of 2017 by 11.2% compared with the same period of 2016 and the vacancy rate is falling, shows the latest report by tenant-only advisory firm Cresa. The growth of the SSC/BPO sector and potential Brexit are likely to drive the Warsaw market going forward.

OTP Property Investment Fund has acquired the BSR Center office building in Budapest from a fund managed by GLL Real Estate Partners.

The Openville Timişoara development, the largest mixed-use project in the west of Romania will be opened in the fourth quarter of next year, upon completion of the first phase of development. The project that integrates the current Iulius Mall Timişoara will comprise office, retail, park and entertainment uses, and is developed by the IULIUS and Atterbury Europe companies.

Turkish real estate developer Anchor Grup will invest €9.5 million in the Pallady Towers residential project.