According to a new report published by Cresa Poland, the Tricity office market is likely to become a tenant’s market soon due to the changing market environment. Tricity is still attractive for the BPO/SSC/GBS sector. Additionally, investments in its seaport and transport infrastructure are a magnet for sea freight operators.

The lockdown period and the uncertainty of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic pushed some tenants to temporarily withhold their decisions in pending lease negotiations. Gross take-up climbed to 334,800 sqm in H1 2020, representing a 17% decrease on the same period in 2019, with most transactions having been commenced in the pre-pandemic environment. Cushman & Wakefield summarised H1 2020 on the Warsaw office market.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the sentiment on the Polish office market appears to be optimistic. Total office stock currently amounts to just over 11.3 million sqm, with Warsaw the undisputed leader, followed by Kraków. During the first six months of the year, tenant activity reached approx. 667,800 sqm, with new contracts accounting for more than half of take-up. Despite limited new supply (275,700 sqm in H1 2020), the vacancy rate increased to 7.9% (+40 bps Q/Q) in Warsaw and 10.2% (+70 bps Q/Q) in regional markets as at the end of Q2. Axi Immo summed up the first half of 2020 on the Polish office market.

At the end of Q2 2020, total modern office stock in the eight regional Polish cities amounted to 5.6 million sqm. The largest regional office markets are Kraków (1,483,300 sqm), Wrocław (1,186,100 sqm) and the Tri-City (868,400 sqm).

According to the latest report prepared by Cresa Poland, leasing activity reached nearly 52,600 sqm on the Kraków office market in the second quarter of 2020. Renegotiations accounted for 76% of the leasing volume, while new leases and expansions made up 15% and 9% of all deals, respectively.

In terms of tenant activity, the major regional markets can speak of a better H1 than a year ago. Despite the expected slowdown, some companies continue to expand their business. JLL summarised the situation on the Polish office market at the end of H1 2020.

Local developer Crestyl Group has completed the fourth office building in its Dock district development project, located in Prague’s Palmovka area.

The H1 data indicate that the worst-case scenarios regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Warsaw office market did not materialize. According to a report published by Cresa Poland, the second quarter witnessed a substantial volume of new supply which has now been almost fully absorbed by the market. A total of 100,000 sqm was delivered in Warsaw with an additional 700,000 sqm currently under construction.

Echo Investment has gained a loan for the construction of the MidPoint71 office building, that is being built in Wrocław on Powstańców Śląskich street. PKO Bank Polski provided the financing of the project. In accordance with the signed loan agreement, the bank granted Echo Investment €54.4 million in a construction loan, as well as a PLN 7 million VAT loan. Once the construction is finished, the construction loan will be converted to an investment loan. The total funding period ends on 30 June 2026.

Total office market demand reached 335,000 sqm in H1 2020 on the Warsaw office market. In fact, demand for office space in Q2 was significantly higher than in Q1. Vacancy rates across Warsaw increased slightly by 0.1 p.p., with 770,000 sqm under construction. JLL summarised the Warsaw office market in H1 2020.