The Romanian retail market continued to expand in 2016 with total stock reaching 1.22 million sqm in Bucharest and 2.3 million sqm in regional cities. For 2017 no major retail project is scheduled for completion in the capital, while 130,000 sqm are expected to be delivered in regional cities. DTZ Echinox Romania published its retail reports for 2016.

Poland’s total retail stock stood at nearly 14 million sqm at year-end 2016. Shopping centres continue to dominate the market, accounting for 73% of the country’s stock, followed by retail warehouses (18%), retail parks (8%) and outlet centres (1%). Last year’s new supply totalled 460,600 sqm, of which more than three-fourths were delivered across shopping centres. Twenty two new retail schemes were opened in 2016: 15 shopping centres, the largest being Posnania in Poznań (99,000 sqm) and Galeria Metropolia in Gdańsk (34,000 sqm), two retail parks and five standalone retail warehouses. Extensions and redevelopments of 13 existing schemes provided 74,000 sqm of leasable space, making up 16% of the total annual supply. Cushman & Wakefield presented its latest report on Poland’s retail market.

One of the subsidiaries of Plaza Centers has completed the sale of Suwałki Plaza shopping and entertainment centre in Poland to an investment fund for €42.3 million, which is in line with the last reported book value, the company reports.

Israeli real estate developer AFI Europe plans to invest €200 million euro in the construction of a residential and shopping complex in Belgarde, the Serbian capital’s mayor Siniša Mali announced. 

Echo Polska Properties (EPP) has concluded a preliminary acquisition agreement with two real estate funds managed by Blackstone, to acquire 4 retail properties for €166.57 million. The properties are Galeria Twierdza in Klodzko (€40.67m), Galeria Twierdza in Zamosc (€53.51m), Galeria Tecza in Kalisz (€23.21m) and Wzorcownia Shopping Centre in Wloclawek (€49.17m). 

2016 reached the volume of €11.8bn in investment markets across Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania, according to a research report by Colliers International. Aside from Poland, investment flows in 2017 will be close to or higher than 2016’s.  The retail sector might see continued rental growth and high investment levels across the region.

With effect from this January, Cushman & Wakefield is the manager of both shopping centres in Mladá Boleslav. Both Olympia Mladá Boleslav, which Cushman & Wakefield has been managing since 2015, and Bondy shopping centre are now under the management of one company. CPI Property Group owns both centres.

Knight Frank has been appointed asset manager, property manager and sole agency of the Zgorzelec Plaza shopping and entertainment centre. A new lease agreement with a fitness services provider has also been signed recently.

German fashion retailer Peek&Cloppenburg has leased 5,200 sqm in the extension of the AFI Palace Cotroceni shopping mall in Bucharest. Extension work to add 6,800 sqm of GLA to the mall is to be completed in May, bringing the total leasable area up to approximately 90,000 sqm. Peek&Cloppenburg’s new store is set to open this autumn.

Arcona Capital has announced that its Arcona Property Fund is on course to complete the acquisition from RECE of a portfolio of 11 neighbourhood shopping centres in Poland for €25.9 million. Arcona has already completed on eight of the centres and will complete on the other three centres by the end of the first quarter of 2017.