According to the RICS Commercial Property Monitor, Hungary has the strongest occupier sentiment and the Czech Republic has the strongest investment sentiment among the 40 countries surveyed in Q1 2019. Market expectations remained fairly positive across Central and Eastern Europe in the first quarter of the year, with the share of those stating that we have reached the peak of current property cycle decreasing compared to previous quarters.

The Czech property investment market continues to post solid figures in an environment that is increasingly less bullish. One of the leading local players believes that a downturn of the current property cycle will eventually come from a major outside macro shock and before this happens, the Czech commercial property sector will keep showing positive figures. Tomáš Jandík, CFA, MRICS, REICO’s Chief Investment Officer shared his market expectations with Property Forum.

CTP has launched two new industrial parks just outside of Plzeň, on the D5 highway connecting the Czech Republic with Germany. Up to 46,000 sqm of space will become available for new clients in the initial phases of construction in CTPark Cerhovice and Blatnice.

Cushman & Wakefield has published new research assessing 48 of the most suitable locations for global manufacturers to expand or relocate their operations in EMEA, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. While manufacturers’ individual requirements will vary, China performs strongly thanks to increasing government investment in the adoption of technology, while the United States is most attractive for those seeking to minimise exposure to economic and political threats, followed by Canada and the Czech Republic. Considering basic criteria the Czech Republic is fifth globally and first in Europe.

During Q1 2019, gross take-up, which includes renegotiations, reached 384,700 sqm of the Czech industrial market, showing an increase of 24% over Q4 2018 figures. The Industrial Research Forum announced the final industrial market figures for Q1 2019.

The vacancy rate on Prague’s office market decreased to 4.3%, down 80 basis points in comparison with the revised results of Q4 2018. The Prague Research Forum announced the office market figures for the first quarter of 2019.

Fund management company Redside has completed the acquisition of an industrial building in Pilsen, Czech Republic, with a total lettable area of 25,000 square meters. The seller is the current occupier of the property, the Japanese cable maker Yazaki. The new owner has joined forces with Panattoni Europe, for further development.

Following the recent takeover of the Sugarmaker Palace, UBM Development is preparing another large project, namely the Astrid Garden multifunctional complex, consisting of two parts – Astrid Offices and Astrid Residences. In the first stage, a five-storey office building will be constructed, followed by a residential complex of about 110 units the sale of which will be launched in the third quarter of 2020. The architectural form was designed by Bogle Architects, emphasising not only the modern look, lightness and airiness, but also the sensitive setting in the typical character of Holešovice.

DBK, a Czech retail specialist, has acquired a majority share in Europark – Štěrboholy, a shopping centre in Prague 10 from Austrian developer, SES Spar European Centers.

JLL has provided space for 2 new branches of the international provider of co-working offices Spaces. In November this year, Spaces open in the low-energy building Nile House in Karlín, where they will occupy more than 3,500 sqm. One month later, they will take over 3,300 sqm in the SmíchOFF office building in Prague 5. At the same time, Spaces announced its first location in Hungary. The co-working operator will move into GTC White House in Budapest in Q4 2019. CBRE acted as adviser to the deal.