The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak seems to be having a severely negative impact on market sentiment across the CEE region, according to the latest RICS Commercial Property Monitor. Q1 2020 figures show that both rental and capital value expectations have been downgraded across the region with retail expected to see the sharpest decline and industrial proving to be the most resilient asset class.

Neinver reopened its five outlet centres in Poland on 4 May under strict health and safety measures and with over 80% of their shops open. The Factory centres in Warsaw, Krakow, Gliwice and Poznan have implemented reopening plans in close coordination with the brands and authorities to ensure the maximum safety of employees and visitors.

Has the Polish real estate market been hit by the coronavirus pandemic? How will it change over the course of several months? Cushman & Wakefield presented a summary of Q1 2020 on the Polish property market, the impact of the pandemic on each sector and economic forecasts for Poland in its new report.

Consulting company Walter Herz has been appointed the leading agency responsible for commercialisation of space in EQ2 office building in Warsaw, developed by Waryński Group. Handover is planned for March 2021.

Panattoni has embarked on a new project, Panattoni Park Tricity East III, totalling close to 33,000 sqm. The park will be completed in a single phase and has already found tenants for more than 26,000 sqm. They are logistics operators: Greenyard Logistics Poland, providing services to the FMCG sector, which will take up close to 12,000 sqm, and Omega Pilzno, specialising in comprehensive supply chain services, with a lease of 14,500 sqm. Project commissioning is anticipated in Q1 2021.

Colliers International has been appointed to manage the first stage of the Face2Face Business Campus in Katowice, which is being developed by Echo Investment. The commission brings the Silesian portfolio of Colliers’ property management department up to more than 40,000 sqm of office space.

Panattoni has bought 14.8 hectares of land in Central Poland to build Panattoni Park Stryków IV. The project, which will feature 74,000 sqm at full build-out, will be developed at the intersection of the A1 and A2 motorways. Construction kick-off is planned for Q3 2020.

Construction work on Villa Offices, the highest commercial building in Warsaw Brewery mixed-use complex, has been completed by developer Echo Investment. WeWork will soon open its headquarters in the new office building.

In Q1 2020, approximately 50,000 sqm of modern retail space was delivered to the market in Poland. The construction of four schemes was completed: Galeria Chełm (17,500 sqm), Stop Shop Siedlce (14,100 sqm), Galeria Kupiecka in Otwock (10,000 sqm) and Vendo Park Jawor (6,700 sqm). However, due to the onset of the coronavirus epidemic, the new shopping centres have limited possibilities to serve consumers, in the same as all large retails facilities in Poland.

Interest in investments in the private student housing sector in Poland is constantly growing. Investors see this market as highly absorptive, which currently satisfies less than 10% of the demand for student accommodation. Significant advantages include forecasts concerning the constantly growing number of foreign students in Poland and attractive rates of return on investment, according to a new report prepared by ThinkCo in cooperation with Golub GetHouse.