ARTICLES LABELLED WITH TAG Poland

Awaiting the reopening of shops and service outlets to go shopping at traditional brick-and-mortar stores, positive footfall results achieved by most shopping centres in May, the opening of a second Primark store with a third one in the pipeline, plus a strong debut of a new Polish off-price concept – these are some of the key news and developments to have taken place in the retail sector in Q2 2021, according to BNP Paribas Real Estate.

MLP Group has just contracted W.P.I.P. of Poznań to further expand its MLP Poznań West project in Dąbrówka. The general contractor is to build over 43,000 sqm of new space, with the construction works due to commence still in July.

Tenants are responding to the change in customer preferences and are now increasingly likely to choose retail premises in modern residential areas. As JLL found in Miasteczko Wilanów in Warsaw, 2021 has seen the number of ground floor units grow by more than 100, an almost 25% increase on 2018. This trend is not limited to the capital city.

Accolade expands its presence on the Polish market. The company has acquired two new industrial locations in Szczecin, with the intention of investing in the development of modern, Class A warehouses totalling 73,000 sqm GLA. The investment continues Accolade’s strategic expansion in the Szczecin region.

The growth of intermodal connections along the New Silk Road and the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor is creating many new opportunities for warehouse developers in Poland. Upgrade works are continuing apace on the railway lines in Małaszewicze, Bydgoszcz and Pomerania, according to Cresa Poland.

The increasing number of vaccinations is allowing the retail sector to catch its breath, with customers returning to ‘brick-and-mortar’ stores. JLL forecasts that total new supply could hit 540,0000 sqm in 2021, marking a return to pre-pandemic performances.

The PRS market in the CEE region gathers pace and interest from investors but the majority of activity is currently centred around the Czech Republic and Poland. However, there is a larger number of PRS/BTR projects being announced in the pipeline for delivery over the next few years across the entire region. Colliers, in cooperation with Kinstellar and Greenberg Traurig, publishes a report entitled 'The Private Rental Sector: Has it found a home in CEE?'

Panattoni has launched work on its 21st park in Lower Silesia. The developer has started the construction of Panattoni Park Wrocław S8 South, which is to have an area of 18,000 sqm. The investment has already attracted its first tenant from the logistics sector, which will occupy more than 4,600 sqm. The facility is to be completed this year, in Nowa Wieś Wrocławska, close to the Wrocław Południe junction between the A4 motorway and the S8, providing an connection with the main logistics centres across Poland and Europe.

The new Acteeum project – Koszalin Power Center – developed in cooperation with Leroy Merlin and Agata Meble has just gained a food anchor. As part of the largest shopping complex in the Koszalin region, Lidl will open its large-format supermarket with an area of 2,000 sqm. The construction of the Power Center in Koszalin will start this year and the opening is planned for the second half of 2022.

Nordic investor NREP has recently made headlines by entering the Polish market with the acquisition of a 130,000 sqm logistics portfolio and over 1,000 apartments. Stefan Wallander, Chief Business Officer of NREP talked to Property Forum about their entry into the local market, rising apartment prices and sustainability commitment.