The year 2017 saw the greatest amount of industrial space built in Europe in its history – more than 3.7 million sqm. This represents a 68% increase over 2016 and a 55% increase over the existing record dating back to 2007 (an additional 1.2 million sqm). The total industrial space in the region has increased by 17% as a result. Such are the results of a survey conducted by Cushman & Wakefield, a company that has been monitoring the industrial property market in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania on a long-term basis.

As of January 2018, BNP Paribas Real Estate was selected to provide property management services for a real estate portfolio of 60,000 sqm commercial properties owned by OTP Real Estate Investment Fund. The mandate consists of 4 buildings: Akadémia Park, Szépvölgyi 22, Raday 42 and a logistics park in Gyál, at the outskirts of Budapest.

Czech online retailer alza.cz plans to bring its new self-service concept store to Hungary, local daily Magyar Nemzet reports. Alza opened its first similar store at Prague’s Flora metro station this January. The store, which is able to serve 1,000 costumes daily, operates with no staff and offers 24-hour accessibility. The company invested nearly €200 million in the opening of the store.

Although offices still comprise the majority of certified green buildings in Hungary, other types of properties are increasingly being certified, according to Colliers International’s latest green building market report.

Budapest-based investment company Wigan Acquisitions has completed the acquisition of a multi-let office building in downtown Budapest, taking the total capital deployed on behalf of its family office and private equity partners to €135 million.

JLL and CBRE have been jointly appointed to lease Budapest ONE Business Park, the new office development project of Futureal Group in Hungary. The two advisors will cooperate on a co-exclusive basis for the leasing of the 68,000 square meter office complex.

Atrium European Real Estate Limited announced the sale of 18 assets in Hungary and one in the Czech Republic for a combined price of €70 million, representing an 8% premium to the book value as at 30 September 2017. The disposals form part of the company’s ongoing strategy to improve its portfolio through the selective rotation of capital towards high quality, well-established shopping centres which dominate their catchment areas.

French-owned international retailer Auchan Retail is poised to increase its commercial capacity in Hungary with a new, integrated logistics centre at Üllő Airport Logistics Centre near Budapest. The 87,200 sqm, greenfield facility will be the largest of its kind ever built in Hungary and is being developed by Goodman. The new hub will be key to Auchan Retail’s strategy to develop a multi-channel offer for Hungarian customers.

Appeninn Nyrt. announced the purchase of a historic building in the centre of Budapest for €7 million through the acquisition of holding company Plaza House. Dávid House, located on Andrássy Road and formerly known as Andrássy Palace, has 2400 sqm GLA. It was transformed into a Class A office building in 2001.

A 20,000 square meter logistic centre was taken over by SEG Automotive's domestic unit, which specializes in the development and production starter motors and generators. The technologically advanced warehouse – featuring indoor GPS-tracking – is the largest interconnected hall in the region.