The European construction industry will be hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis, according to Euroconstruct's latest forecast for 19 European member states.
The first quarter of the year 2020, mostly starting with mid-February, was marked by ominous economic forecasts. Thus, some decline in construction activity was to be expected, and indeed newly started construction projects dropped to just over €1.3 billion in Q1 2020. This amounts to a 14% decrease compared to the equivalent period of 2019, according to the latest edition of the EBI Construction Activity Report for Romania.
The National Federation of Hungarian Building Contractors (ÉVOSZ) expects orders that were never placed in the last two months will be arriving in mid-June.
The structure of OTP Bank's new office building in Budapest has been completed by developer Market Építő Zrt. The seven-story office building, which is being built in the 13th district, in the immediate vicinity of OTP Bank's existing office park, will be home to 3,000 employees once construction is complete in end-2021.
As the first coronavirus cases were registered in Hungary at the beginning of March, the effect of the epidemic on first-quarter figures might have been smaller. The epidemic may affect the construction industry in two ways. Projects that have already started may stop or may continue at a slower pace and it may hold back the value of projects entering construction phase. Results show that there was a massive decline in the value of completed projects already in Q1 2020. The value of the Activity Completion Indicator of the EBI Construction Activity Report in the domestic construction industry decreased by 29% due to the epidemic, and several hundred projects were delayed.
Penta Real Estate has obtained a zoning decision which means that it can apply for a building permit for its Masaryk station mixed-use reconstruction project in the centre of Prague. Based on the design of Zaha Hadid Architects, the project has been in the works for over a decade. Completion is planned for 2022-2025.
In the Serbian economy, the construction industry has been one of the sectors least affected by COVID-19, with only smaller decrease recorded in production volumes and logistical capacity. The Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association has published a COVID-19 update on the construction sector of Serbia.
COVID-19’s direct impact on ongoing construction activity in Romania has been minimal since no restrictions were in place specifically targeting construction works. Several indirect factors, however, are expected to limit the amount of construction activity. The Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association has published a COVID-19 update on the construction sector of Romania.
Generation Park Y, Skanska's highest office project in the CEE region, reached the target height of 140 metres. The building will offer 47,000 sqm GLA with completion planned for Q1 2021.
The construction industry seems to have been relatively less affected than some other industries (like tourism) as most large projects continue during the lockdown measures across the region. The Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association has published a COVID-19 update on the construction sectors of Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia.
108 Agency has mediated a lease of 7,700 sqm for the company DSV Solutions in Prologis Park Prague-Airport. DSV Solutions provides and manages supply chain solutions.
TECH LIGHT, a manufacturer and designer of LED lighting profiles, has relocated to Panattoni A2 Warsaw East Park, situated next to Stary Konik junction near Warsaw. The tenant moved into 1,200 sqm of warehouse and office space already in August. AXI IMMO provided comprehensive advisory services for TECH LIGHT.
Eli Lilly has extended its office lease of 900 sqm in Bucharest Business Park. The pharmaceutical company has been a tenant in the project since 2006. The office complex is owned by CA Immo. Real estate consultancy CBRE worked on the lease extension.
New appointments
From mid-October this year, Kornél Kalapács is taking up the position of Managing Director of Codic Hungary, the company announced. With around 30 years of experience in real estate development and construction, he will strengthen Codic's Hungarian subsidiary, which will hand over the Green Court Office A building under his management next month.
Mateusz Gołembiewski will head up JLL's HR organisation in the CEE and Russia region. He has 15 years of experience in developing company strategies and operations in this field, and will lead the HR teams in Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Russia.
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has announced the appointment of Søren Rodian Olsen, managing director of Logicenters at NREP as chair of ULI Poland. He succeeds Dorota Wysokińska-Kuzdra, senior partner at Colliers, and officially began his voluntary two-year term on 1 October 2021.
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