The first online panel of Property Forum took place yesterday, where six experts discussed the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the real estate market in CEE. Our panelists discussed who could be the biggest winners and losers of the current situation, what to expect in the logistics and retail markets and how the current spread of remote working may affect the office market and coworking operators. They also explained the possible impact of the coronavirus crisis on investments and ongoing and planned developments.

Panattoni has leased out 35,000 sqm at Panattoni Park Gliwice III. As a result, another Panattoni distribution centre is now fully commercialised. The tenant will move into the park before the end of April and will use it for e-commerce order fulfilment.

Retail is among the real estate sectors most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. As most stores have been ordered to close across Europe, retail landlords face an unprecedented challenge. Duarte Cabral, Deputy Managing Director EMEA at Sonae Sierra shared with us his initial impressions on this rapidly evolving situation.

Belgian real estate developer Liebrecht & wooD, continues the development of its second outlet centre on the Romanian market, in Cernica, near Bucharest, despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, zf.ro reports.

Colliers International in CEE intends to update some of the more rapidly changing data and market sentiment on a weekly basis and then to provide Q1 market sector updates as they become available or as they develop. Below is this week’s summary.

Throughout the region, CTP is offering clients the opportunity to lease warehouse space for short terms. This measure comes in response to the concerns being raised by the COVID-19 situation regarding the stability of the retail supply chain.

NEPI Rockcastle provided an initial update concerning the impact of the COVID-19 related government measures on its activities in an announcement dated 17 March 2020. Since that date, the authorities in Romania, Serbia and Croatia have increased the safety measures to contain the spreading of COVID-19. New measures include temporarily limiting the operations of some of its shopping centres’ tenants.

The COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve rapidly and several governments in the markets in which Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) operates have taken measures to contain the spread of the virus. These measures will impact the Group’s operations, according to URW’s statement.

The government authorities in all countries where Immofinanz owns and operates retail properties have recently imposed restrictions and implemented various measures to contain Covid-19. These measures affect various aspects of everyday life, among others through the temporary shutdown of retail facilities. Exceptions have generally been made for stores, which sell basic supplies like supermarkets and pharmacies, drugstores, post offices, banks, pet food shops etc. Moreover, access to public areas has been limited or similar recommendations have been issued. Immofinanz supports these measures in the interest of public health and safety.

Property Forum collected the latest measures taken in CEE countries to mitigate the negative effects of the coronavirus outbreak.