Petre Niculae, Founder of Pedro Construct, spoke with Property Forum about the new residential project whose development started this year, the challenges in the construction market and the company’s strategy of integrating innovative technologies in the design, construction, and development phases.

The second quarter of 2023 in the Czech Republic was characterized by record industrial construction, with more than 60 percent of it already pre-leased. The vacancy rate rose slowly to the current 1.7 percent, indicating a prevailing market sentiment that sees speculative construction and a recent-record high amount of space under construction, according to the latest analysis by the Industrial Reserch Forum.

Some forms of government support may temporarily ease the current tough conditions for part of the construction sector in Hungary. But companies may not count on outside help only. All have to invest in new technologies and extend their in-house competencies, especially to reach ESG compliance, says Pál Dános MRICS, Associate Partner at KPMG Hungary in an interview with Property Fourm.

Unlike in the Czech Republic, developers in Poland can rely on the deadlines given by law which makes it a lot easier to do business. Marcela Fialková, Strategy Director of Czech-based developer UDI Group talked to Property Forum about the challenges and opportunities different markets in CEE offer.

The Hungarian Parliament voted in favour of the law on the public construction and investment regime with 136 votes in favour, 49 against and 9 abstentions. The law, among other things, makes the use of BIM mandatory for projects at or above the EU public procurement threshold, requires greater control over design and construction than before, and puts the whole life cycle of public works on a new footing.

UBM Development Czechia has successfully completed the rough construction of the Astrid Garden residential project in Prague 7 - Holešovice, where 138 apartments and two commercial units are being built. Construction of Astrid Garden has been underway since November 2021 and is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2024. The sale of the project, designed by renowned architectural studio Bogle Architects, is being handled exclusively by the real estate agency Lexxus Norton. 

In ten years since entering the Karlovy Vary Region, Accolade Group has invested in a total of nearly 300,000 sqm of production, e-commerce and logistics space. The value of completed and handed-over projects exceeds €316 million and properties worth approximately €380 million are currently under construction. The Group's activities are leading to wage growth and a wider range of jobs. In addition to the projects in Cheb, the group recently completed the first building in a new industrial estate in Ostrov.

Construction of one of the largest logistics projects in Croatia is entering its next phase. Development company RC Europe Group from the Czech Republic has started construction work on the RC Zone Samobor project in the Bobovica economic zone. The total land area of 170,000 sqm will feature an 86,000 sqm warehouse facility intended for leasing. In line with the tenants’ requirements, the space in the future logistics park can be used for storage, production, or office operations.

According to Dr Aleš Pustovrh at the EECFA, which conducts research on the construction markets of 8 Eastern European countries, residential construction boom in Slovenia continues and is set to peak this year. Nevertheless, with increasing interest rates on mortgage loans, residential construction will be facing significantly lower demand in the second half of 2023.

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to huge destruction, the volume of construction waste has reached a critical level and continues to increase. Iryna Nastych summarised the situation in an article prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.