Consolidation of the residential business, maintaining a high rental level in all completed Resi4Rent projects, starting new "destination" projects – this is a summary of the operational activities of Echo Investment Group in the first half of 2023. The Group's development plans are supported by a high cash balance of over PLN 662 million. 

Romanian developer Forte Partners has delivered the second phase of its U•Center 2 office project in Bucharest. The building has a leasable area of 35,000 sqm and 28,000 sqm have already been occupied by office and retail tenants.

There are currently more than 56,000 sqm of office space in Prague available for immediate occupation. These are mainly office spaces that have been vacated by their previous tenants due to relocation to new premises or downsizing because of the transition to a hybrid office model. Companies that want to get up and running quickly in their new offices and make substantial savings on the capital costs required for fit-out have plenty to choose from. This secondary supply is a good complement to the shortage of available office space in new buildings that Prague is currently facing, according to the Cushman & Wakefield report.

A new generous public space has been created on the banks of the Vltava River in Karlin, easily accessible from Holešovice thanks to the HolKa footbridge. The entire area managed by CA Immo is now called Riverside Karlín. Since September, a new kindergarten has been open there, which is also accessible to families from the surrounding area, and the developer is preparing other services that have been lacking in the locality so far. The River Rink, which has been transformed from an ice rink into a place where other cultural and sporting activities take place, is already open all year round. 

The construction of the seven-storey Roztyly Plaza office building in Prague 11 has reached its final stage. Passerinvest is finishing its cladding, internal installations and landscaping. It is expected to be completed in early 2024.

The world’s largest provider of hybrid working solutions with brands including Spaces, Regus, HQ and Signature, is expanding its Hungarian portfolio with 3 new openings, as the demand for hybrid working rapidly accelerates in the country.

Skanska has divested the first phase of its office complex H2Offices in Budapest, Hungary, to Erste Open-Ended Real Estate Investment Fund, represented by Erste Alapkezelő Zrt., for approximately €100 million. The transfer of the property is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023.

Total demand for office space on regional markets in the first half of the year was similar to last year’s level, but there were more vacant offices in all major markets, except Warsaw. Warsaw recorded a 30 percent decrease in demand for offices, and yet the vacancy rate decreased. Only a few office projects are being implemented across Poland, says Walter Herz. 

According to the latest research from Savills and its flexible office specialist Workthere, London City remains the most active flexible office market in Europe with the sector accounting for 13% of all office take-up in H1 2023. This is followed by Prague (8%), Amsterdam (6%), Madrid (5%) and Warsaw (4%).

The biggest Czech commercial project by Skanska is officially open to both tenants and visitors. Port7 provides 36,000 sqm of prime office and retail spaces. Compared to typical buildings of its size, Port7 boasts over 43% reduction in energy consumption and a 50% decrease in potable water usage.