The end of 2020 saw the completion of an investment transaction that will enable the future development of one of the largest logistics parks in the Czech Republic on the extensive land surrounding the D5 motorway near Pilsen. CBRE prepared and managed the disposal process on behalf of the Icelandic asset manager Kaupthing. CBRE in addition to advising on the sale, also assisted with land due diligence, feasibility study and provided technical advisory. The new owner of the land is retail chain Lidl.

Healthy occupier demand combined with high development activity have in recent years resulted in an increased appetite for investment land for industrial and logistics properties in Poland. Plot prices have risen as a result in the most attractive locations. Suitable, well-located greenfield land has become scarce, which has turned developers’ attention to brownfield plots. The COVID-19 pandemic has not had a material impact on the demand-supply balance in the land market, according to AXI IMMO.

The Industrial Agency of Colliers International Czech Republic completed the signature of a 15,688 sqm lease agreement for a German multinational engineering and technology company for industrial premises at CTPark Bor.

Over the year, the developer signed lease agreements with such clients as Media Expert, 4f, InPost, Allegro and Phoenix Contact for over 2.1 million sqm of space – 800,000 sqm more than the previous year. This volume was achieved in spite of the outbreak of the epidemic in March and was mainly due to the e-commerce boom. The strong performance of the warehouse and industrial market was also the result of other new trends – such as the shift of production from Asia closer to the end consumer and retail networks securing the continuity of their supply chains.

Savas Gencer has been appointed as investment director at 7R. He has joined the investment team led by Christopher Zeuner and will be responsible for capital raising activities and 7R’s international expansion into new European markets.

Over 650,000 sqm of logistics and industrial space were rented last year in Romania, almost 40% more than in 2019, a Dunwell analysis shows.

CTP is expanding its industrial park north of the Serbian capital, CTPark Belgrade North, following the purchase of a 28,500 sqm warehouse and adjacent land for further development from Austrian-based real estate developer Eyemaxx. As a result, the overall capacity of CTPark Belgrade North now stands at 50,000 sqm, with the landbank enabling to achieve about 115,000 sqm of leaseable space at the location.

In response to growing demand for logistics space on the domestic market, ConvergenCE has prepared a ready-made product in Tárnok, Hungary where the construction of an 8,000 sqm logistics hall can be started immediately.

Arvato Supply Chain Solutions has leased 15,600 sqm at Panattoni Park Poznań IV in Komorniki in Poland. The logistics operator handles the online sales of one of the leading international companies in the fashion segment. Panattoni Park Poznań IV, after the completion of expansion work, now covers almost 87,000 sqm.

Paweł Sapek, Senior Vice President, Regional Head CE & Country Manager of Prologis talked to Property Forum about the state of the warehouse market, the changing expectations and demands of tenants and new challenges for the nearest future.