The Bucharest office market recorded leasing transactions more than 100,000 sqm during Q1.2017, almost doubling the volume of transactions recorded in the same period of the previous year. Net office take-up during Q1 2017 stood at 57,200 sqm. Colliers International published its summary of the Bucharest office market in Q1 2017

According to a summary of Q1 2017 results, NEPI made progress with planning and permitting for several developments and extensions, including those in Galati, Novi Sad and Ramnicu Valcea. Further to the receipt of certain approvals, Victoriei Office in Bucharest is expected to receive permitting for the internal fit-out during the next quarter, enabling tenants to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2017. Zoning and permitting for the Promenada Mall extension continue to experience delays. 

The historic area of the old Monopol Wódczany vodka distillery will be transformed into Monopolis, a project that will combine office space, services and cultural amenities along with restaurants. Construction works at Monopolis will be launched in H2 2017 by developer Virako.

Cresco Group’s latest development in Bratislava, UNIQ Staromestská has received its final inspection certificate. The building consists of three underground and seven above-ground floors. It offers 7,656 sqm of office space, complemented with retail facilities and storage areas covering 917 sqm. 

There is currently 343 000 sqm of office space in development in Prague, 144 000 sqm of which is slated for completion this year. This is the strongest development pipeline since 2014. That being said, the first quarter did not launch the major increase in new office stock expected in the wake of the historically weakest year of 2016. Completion of the majority of new space is planned for the second half of this year.

CTP signed several new leases in Hungary in the first quarter of 2017 which means that construction is now underway in four different locations in the Transdanubia region. The real estate developer, present in Hungary since early 2016, now manages an industrial property portfolio of about 300,000 sqm. 

Berlin-based developer Bischoff & Compagnons is to start a new office development, named Alphagon, in the South Buda area of Budapest. CBRE has been commissioned with the leasing of the property.

The office market in Warsaw maintains momentum with demand for office space reaching 194,000 sqm in Q1 2017. JLL summarized Q1 2017 on the office market in Warsaw.

Prologis announced the completion of a 42,170 square metre build-to-suit (BTS) facility for long-term customer Agata at Prologis Park Piotrków II. 

Swissôtel, part of AccorHotels, has entered into a franchise agreement with Al Shiddi International for the development of a new 218-room urban resort scheduled to open in early 2018. Situated next to Bosnian Parliament, within the mixed-use Sarajevo City Center project, consisting of shopping mall and office tower, Swissôtel Sarajevo will be located in the Bosnian capital’s centre.