While net industrial take-up is down compared to 12-18 months ago, we are seeing a large uptick in enquiries across CEE for strategic production spaces across the automotive, pharmaceuticals, and electric vehicle battery production sectors. James Fitzgerald, Director, Head of Industrial Agency at iO Partners Czechia talked to Property Forum about the main drivers of the CEE industrial market.

In September, Czech developer UDI Group started selling apartments in its first project overseas. The group not only handles the entire sales transaction for the apartments but also the follow-up servicing or leasing. Construction of the 15-storey condominium in the financial district of Panama City's capital is expected to be completed in 2026. 

The construction of the Pod Hády quarter in the Maloměřice and Obřany districts of Brno has officially started. Real estate group Trikaya began preparing the large-scale project on the brownfield site of the dilapidated Ergon factory. According to the development company, the total investment in the project will exceed CZK 4 billion (€163 million). The first residents will be able to move in in 2025.

Due to its growing portfolio and improving tenant structure, Czech developer Contera has decided to secure financing for its projects and development for the next seven years, Daniela Fraňková, Contera's CFO, confirmed for Property Forum. The refinancing will be provided by UniCredit Bank and two other banks.

The biggest Czech commercial project by Skanska is officially open to both tenants and visitors. Port7 provides 36,000 sqm of prime office and retail spaces. Compared to typical buildings of its size, Port7 boasts over 43% reduction in energy consumption and a 50% decrease in potable water usage.

The Prague 3 City Council has approved two contracts with developers Penta and Finep to build on one of Prague's largest brownfield sites at the former Žižkov railway station. This may lead to a change in the zoning plan, which the developers have been waiting for. On the other hand, the city and the district itself will receive CZK 267 million (almost €11 million) in so-called contribs, which will go towards building public parks, reconstructing schools and building a new kindergarten, writes e15.cz.

Czech Investment group Kaprain acquired ca. 53,000 sqm brownfield site from Howden ČKD Compressors, part of Howden, a leading global engineering company, which was recently acquired by Chart Industries. Howden ČKD Compressors exclusively appointed Colliers to market the facility for sale.

In the first half of 2023, a total of 24,600 sqm of new office space was delivered to the Brno office market. Ostrava saw the delivery of no new office space, but the one that is under construction should be completed by the end of the year. The vacancy rate in the Brno office market in H1 2023 increased to 14.6% and in the Ostrava office market up to 7.8%, reports the Regional Research Forum (RRF).

PSN has launched a new project, Ahoj Vanguard, in Československého exilu Street, near the former Microna factory, which is currently being converted into Vanguard Prague industrial housing with 150 lofts. They will be connected not only by an underground tunnel but also by a common background with a spa and wellness area with a swimming pool. The new construction of Ahoj Vanguard with 94 apartments is characterised by colours and a large amount of greenery. The new PSN project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2024.

IT company ITIXO has signed a lease agreement for office space in the IQ Ostrava building. It has thus become the first new tenant of one of the most modern office buildings in the Czech Republic, belonging to the developer CTP. CTP is also the originator of the popular Clubco coworking centre concept, which will be available in IQ Ostrava this autumn.