The spectacular net take-up of 3.5 million sqm at the end of Q3 was better than any other total for the first three quarters of a year. The Polish market was also one of the driving forces behind the record demand in Europe. Advisory company JLL analyses the industrial market at the end of Q3 2021 and outlines the key trends and developments for the sector in the coming months.

Panattoni Europe laid the cornerstone for the construction of a 35,000 sqm facility for FM Logistic at Panattoni Park Głogów. From these premises, the tenant will service B2C e-commerce for a leading pet store chain owned by Fressnapf Group, which operates in Poland under the international brand Maxi Zoo, carrying out orders for individual clients from Poland and Germany. Panattoni Park Głogów, which will eventually cover 20 ha, is to offer 110,000 sqm under one roof. The investment is to be BREEAM certified at the ‘Excellent’ level.

The Capital Park Group has completed the revitalisation of the Norblin Factory. The complex was granted an occupancy permit at the end of August 2021. The multifunctional project has a total area of over 65 thousand square metres. Its office space has already been fully leased. Visitors to the Norblin Factory can enjoy cultural, entertainment and dining concepts including the original KinoGram cinema, the Bio Bazar organic market, and the capital city’s largest food court Food Town.

The latest report by BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland shows that in the first three quarters of this year, a record demand for warehouses was noted, amounting to almost 4.8 million sqm. The company’s analysts also point out that movement at construction sites, where work is currently underway, has also set a new record, with more than 3.7 million sqm of modern office space under construction. As in previous quarters, the development of the sector together with an increased demand for logistics spaces, have been primarily driven by a rise in e-commerce, as well as an increase of companies operating in the logistics and trade sectors.

Trei Real Estate just borrowed €27.5 million in its first financing arrangement with a Polish bank. The lending bank is “Bank Polska Kasa Opieki Spólka Akcyjna” (“Pekao”). Collateral for the loan was provided in the form of seven Vendo Parks in Poland, all of which were completed during the past twelve months. The loan has a five-year maturity. The debt capital is earmarked for further residential developments and the construction of additional Vendo Parks in Poland.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic most companies switched to remote work and reduced the demand for office space, which is reflected in Colliers “Warsaw Office Zones Guide” report’s data. Thanks to vaccinations and a reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases, in Q2 and Q3 2021 we have seen a gradual return of employees to offices and an increase in tenant activity in the Polish capital.

The Accolade Group currently has 580,000 sqm of warehousing space near the western Polish border and plans to almost double the size of this space in the near future. The group continues to invest in the park in Goleniów, while also entering a brand-new location in Jelenia Góra. 

Prologis has started the development of an SBU centre in the Polish capital – Prologis Park Warsaw-Żerań, DC2. The small business unit facility off Trasa Toruńska in the city’s Żerań district comprises 11,000 sqm of industrial space, with units starting from 600 sqm of warehouse space and office units starting from 100 sqm, which can be combined and enlarged as the business grows.

Office development has slowed down due to property market uncertainty. In the meantime, employees have returned to offices and companies have resumed relocations. The ensuing supply and demand imbalance is likely to result in a supply gap over the coming year or so which will continue at least until 2025, say Cresa agency experts.

Dariusz Węglicki, Country Manager of Catella Residential Investment Management talked to Property Forum about the attractiveness of Poland for PRS investors, luxury rental projects and private student housing development.