JLL announced the appointment of Andrew Peirson as Managing Director of its Czech Republic business effective January 1st, 2021. Based in Prague, Peirson will lead the senior management team, supporting and growing the various business lines in leasing, sales, investments, consulting and strategic advisory. As part of the CEE leadership team, he will help navigate the evolving business environment in this prospering and rapidly growing region and continue delivering exceptional value to our clients.

The share of internet sales has returned to near pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, Polish customers are more willing than before to turn to convenience shopping in smaller retail formats. JLL summarised conditions on Poland's retail market at the end of Q3 2020.

JLL has appointed Mateusz Bonca as CEO of Poland, effective mid-November. He will be based in Warsaw.

Trei Real Estate GmbH and JLL jointly published a new market report on retail parks and convenience centres in Poland, according to which the segment has followed an upward trend for years, and not even the coronavirus pandemic has impacted its performance. One of the reasons for this is that the stores located here often stock food and everyday products. Moreover, the retail units generally have their own entrances and are directly accessible from the parking lot. Shoppers appreciate this aspect because it makes it easier for them to minimise exposure.

Tatra banka, a member of the Raiffeisen Bank International Group, has decided to reflect on the latest development in global workplace trends by changing its corporate real estate strategy which currently includes disposal of one of Tatra banka's office buildings on Černyševského street no. 48 in Bratislava.

JLL announced the first edition of the Sofia City Report, a semiannual publication which provides a detailed view of specific real estate markets in Sofia: office, retail and warehouses. It offers information on the economic situation in Bulgaria, including the investment climate. The report was made with the support of IPC Partners Bulgaria.

According to the latest JLL report, in the first half of the year, companies leased over 60,000 sqm of space in Wrocław. Although this result significantly exceeded 2019’s results, tenants are more cautious in the second half of the year and have put their expansion plans on hold. However, an expected influx of investments from the service sector and, the dynamic development of R&D centres, IT centres and gaming industry brings with it the promise of a market rebound.

JLL announced the next stage in its ambitious sustainability program by committing to achieve net zero carbon emissions across all JLL-occupied buildings by 2030. The firm also advocates a net zero approach for all its clients and suppliers.

The amendment to the Construction Law in Poland came into force on 19 September. Changes include a division of project documentation, organization of the provisions which specify what works require a building permit, and legislation on unauthorized construction, and in the opinion of experts from JLL, ought to be of benefit to investors, developers and construction companies operating on the Polish market.

The condition of the Kraków office sector has been defined by successive records in recent years. It is the largest regional office market in Poland, the second city after Warsaw, which in 2017 crossed the one million sqm threshold, and the main location for BPO/SSC companies in Central and Eastern Europe. However, the global pandemic, which affected all segments of the economy, undoubtedly also affected the office sector. How? According to JLL’s latest report, in the first half of the year, demand for offices in Kraków was about 15% lower than H1 2019. In addition, the increase in remote working has prompted some employers to reorganize their offices.