According to Savills’ latest research, European offices and logistics are the two commercial real estate sectors most shielded from energy shocks as utility costs account for a relatively small share of total business spending.

Markets like Poland have recorded rental growth of 20% and the upward trend is visible almost everywhere across P3 Logistic Parks’ European portfolio. During MIPIM, Property Forum sat down with David Marquina, Chief Development Officer of European Development at P3, to talk about the drivers of European logistics markets and to find out what’s next for the developer.

Industrial developer WDP saw a 15.2% growth of its rental income to €80.9 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of last year, while its EPRA earnings rose 18% to €62.7 million in the same period, according to a company report. 

According to Savills' latest European logistics outlook, the take-up of industrial and logistics space across the continent totalled 37.5 million sqm in 2022. Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, this signifies a fall of only 6% on 2021’s total of 40.2 million sqm, which was a record high for the sector.

CTP Group is aiming to double the size of its pan-European network of business parks to 20 million sqm of leasable space by the end of the decade, over the projected growth of demand across Central and Eastern Europe. 

More than three-quarters (76%) of Europe’s office buildings are at risk of obsolescence by the end of this decade unless landlords invest in improvements or find alternative uses for it. This is the warning from Cushman & Wakefield in its latest report.

Europe’s largest retail estate fair, MIPIM, which took place in Cannes last week, has shown that the industry was on the move. Interestingly enough, the market mood is by no means as negative as is frequently suggested. On the contrary, Arnold Investments reports lively interest from international investors. The focus is particularly on properties of up to €50 million. “Many deals are about to be finalized”, summarizes Markus Arnold, CEO and sole owner of Arnold Investments.

According to Savills latest research, pricing levels are increasingly attracting North American investors to European real estate. In 2022, North Americans invested more than Europeans cross the border, €48 billion compared to €36.6 billion, which is 31% above the five-year average for the former. In the Czech Republic, investors from North America spent €321 million in 2022 (40% above the five-year average), while European buyers (excluding domestic capital) acquired assets worth €459 million.

European convenience real estate investor Mitiska REIM has announced a strategic joint venture partnership with Belgium-based self-storage company, STORO. As part of the agreement, Mitiska REIM, on behalf of the MEREP 3 fund, has purchased a stake in STORO’s self-storage sites.  

While the property investment volume in the European Union fell by 23% year-on-year to €211.5 billion in 2022, the market in Germany shrank by around 44% in 2022 compared to the previous year, says a market analysis conducted by Arnold Investments