This year’s first quarter on Poland’s regional office markets was marked by a high level of activity from tenants in the IT sector. The next few months may bring acceleration in activity from companies in the business services sector. JLL summarised the situation on the Polish office market at the end of Q1 2020.

The Polish Commercial Real Estate Chamber (PINK) published figures on Poland’s regional office markets for Q1 2020. The data is sourced from advisory companies from the commercial real estate sector (BNP Paribas Real Estate, CBRE, Colliers International, Cresa, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, Knight Frank, Savills) and includes information on modern office stock, new completions, take-up volumes and vacancy rates.

Section B of the Olivia Prime office project in Gdańsk has received an occupancy permit and become the third largest office building in Poland. The Olivia Business Center complex now comprises 175,000 sqm in seven buildings and has a target size of more than 200,000 sqm.

Penta Real estate has submitted a building permit application to the Warsaw city council for the development of a new office project in the city’s Wola district, at the intersection of Miedziana and Pańska Streets. The developer acquired the 0.63 ha site in 2015 for PLN 50 million.

Sooner or later, many companies that recommended their employees to work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic will return to their offices. Whether this happens in a matter of two, four or six weeks, it is a good idea to start preparing for the move now. The Six Feet Office concept offers rules and aids to enable and facilitate the observance of the safe six-feet distance for increased employee safety. The companies that implement these rules will be able to accelerate the return of their employees to the offices, and thus their own return to normal.

70% of office building managers confirmed the adverse effects of the current restrictions on contract negotiations in a survey conducted by Walter Herz. The consulting company analysed how companies in Poland are coping with the current situation on the office market and what effects does home office bring. 

Colliers International has taken over the management of Prosta Office Centre in Warsaw. The current owner of Prosta Office Centre is KGAL Investment Management which acquired it from Cromwell Property Group at the beginning of this year.

Skanska has been assigned to construct a new medical faculty for the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw (UKSW).

The coronavirus pandemic has had a relatively benign effect on the Q1 2020 Warsaw office market figures, according to the latest Savills research. However, tenants already started to optimize costs which soon may increase the number of lease renewals and subleases. Companies will look for more flexible lease terms and cost-effective locations.

During the first three months of 2020, demand on the Warsaw office market was nearly 139,000 sqm, which almost matched the Q1 performance of last year. The vacancy rate fell by 0.3 pps, while 770,000 sqm is under construction. JLL summarised the Warsaw office market in Q1 2020.