Because of the pandemic, a significant number of Polish consumers are increasingly turning to smaller stores, which are located outside traditional shopping centres. Is this an opportunity for high street shop owners, answer the experts from JLL advisory agency

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 group completed transactions worth €206.5 million, as well as attracting record-breaking leases, launching three multifunctional projects and starting with its project of an apartment lease platform, which will deliver over 2200 units to the market. The company currently has a commercial project portfolio of 500 000 square meters and intends to double this number within the next five years.

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.

In 2020, Echo Investment hit records both in sales and handovers of apartments. It managed to sign 1570 sales contracts with clients, what outperformed last year's results by 16%. At the same time, clients received their keys to 1505 apartments, which in turn means a 19% increase compared to 2019.

Panattoni is completing the first stage of construction work on a distribution warehouse for OTCF S.A. The BTS centre in Czeladź is to eventually have an area of 67,000 sqm. The first stage of the construction work is to be completed in February 2021.

Immofinanz has received a building permit for the newest planned project under the Stop Shop brand in Zielona Góra. The beginning of construction works is planned in the nearest future and the completion of the new Stop Shop Zielona Góra retail park is scheduled for the turn of 2021/2022.  

At 230 metres full roof height Varso Tower is now officially the tallest building in Poland. Works continue at the top of the building where a 80-metre tall spire is to be assembled in upcoming weeks. Upon its completion, Varso Tower - developed by HB Reavis - will be the tallest building in the European Union with its architectural height of 310 metres. The construction is set to complete in Q1 2022.

Yareal closed the final agreement for the sale of the first phase the LIXA complex in Warsaw, which opened its doors to tenants in November. The price has not been disclosed.