Bulgarian Real Estate Fund received permission for the construction of a new building in the state-owned Science and Technology Park in Sofia.

Romanian developer Wallberg has secured a €5.8 million loan from Garanti Bank to finance the development of the XCity Towers project in Timisoara. XCity Towers it will be built in several stages, with a total of 955 apartments in 8 buildings. The total value of the project will exceed €62 million, of which the first stage will amount to €36 million.

Orbis Hotel Group, a strategic partner of AccorHotels, continues its expansion in Romania by signing a management contract for ibis Politehnica Hotel in Bucharest with its partner and investor Novum Business Services SRL.

Romanian developer Speedwell has launched the construction works of Record Park, a mixed-use development and urban regenerating project in Cluj-Napoca. The €42 million project is due to be completed in H2 2020. The project is being developed on a plot of 17,300 sqm and will have a total built area of 36,000 sqm.

Wing has begun preparations for the construction of another office building in one of Budapest’s most dynamically developing districts, right next to the recently inaugurated Telekom HQ. With a total floor space of 40,000 sqm, the Liberty Office Building will offer premium office and retail space. A distinctive feature and main appeal of the people-oriented building, constructed to BREEAM ‘Very Good’ certification requirements, is a plant-filled, two-storey high rooftop greenhouse spanning the wing along the boulevard and a skybar with a panoramic view to the Buda mountains.

Ghelamco presented Warsaw Unit, its latest Warsaw project, previously known as Spinnaker. The 180-metre skyscraper is scheduled to be completed in early 2021. The project’s budget is nearly €200 million.

Europe’s largest privately owned hostel chain, a&o is set to open its first property in Budapest. The company has been searching for suitable properties for a year and found the right building in the vibrant part of the 7th district, at Csengery street, with the help of Cresa

Mennica Legacy Tower has joined the group of Warsaw buildings whose construction measures over 100 meters. The high-rise building, developed by Golub GetHouse and Mennica Polska S.A. at the intersection of Prosta and Żelazna streets in Warsaw, will reach its final height of 140 meters in the Q1 2019.

GTC plans to start the construction of a new office complex, City Rose Park on Bulevardul Expoziţiei in Bucharest next year. The €100 million project will comprise three new office buildings.

As we’re approaching the end of the current cycle, investors allocate more capital to more crisis-resilient asset classes, including student housing. Samuel Vetrak, CEO of StudentMarketing, talked to Property Forum about recent developments on the CEE student housing market. Samuel will also present about the student housing asset class and chair a panel discussion at the upcoming Portfolio Property Investment Forum 2018 in Budapest.