The Polish shopping centre market is now considered mature as many retail malls were built in the 1990s and 2000s, that is before the technological boom in energy efficiency and during a period of significantly lower awareness of the issue. A wave of upgrades is coming, but they will not happen overnight due to high levels of refurbishment expenditure required. In the face of rising challenges of energy and heat consumption, experts from Cushman & Wakefield managing a large and highly diverse portfolio of shopping centres and retail parks provide valuable insight into the results of their frequently innovative and low-cost measures.

Romania’s retail stock is set to expand by around 90,000 sqm in 2024, of which more than half will be based in Pitești-based Argeș Mall. However, the development pipeline is strong for the 2025-2028 period, with a few large and dominant shopping centres expected to add several hundred thousands of leasable space to the local market, according to Colliers data.

According to the latest quarterly report by BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland, the closing months of last year saw heightened development activity and many retailer debuts on the Polish retail market. Retail parks accounted for 80% of the new retail floor space supply.

NEPI Rockcastle, the third biggest retail real estate company in Europe, saw its net operating income soar 21% to a record €491 million in 2023 compared to the previous year over strong sales of its tenants across the region.

The Dornych project of Crestyl Group replacing the old shopping centre in the neighbourhood of the Brno Central Station has received a building permit.

The retail sector accounted for 58% of the total investment transaction volume that reached €500 million during 2023 in Romania, according to data from iO Partners in collaboration with JLL.

Sylvie Geuten-Carpentier, Managing Partner at Mitiska REIM, talked to Property Forum about the current state of affairs in the Polish investment market, recent activities of Mitiska in CEE countries and the rising attractiveness of the retail park sector.

Focus Estate Fund has finalized the purchase of the Galeria Sandecja shopping centre in Nowy Sącz, Poland. With a total area (GLA) of 17,650 sqm, this is the seventh investment for the fund in the Polish retail sector. The seller of the property, TK Development was represented by Colliers International, while the buy side was backed by Czabański & Gałuszyński, Gleeds and KKLW. The price has not been disclosed. 

Colliers Hungary is making a return to the retail market under the leadership of Anita Csörgő. She has nearly 30 years of experience in the retail sector, including high street and shopping centre retail.

The Trigea real estate fund has officially completed the purchase of the Arkády Pankrác shopping centre in Prague. The price exceeded CZK 6 billion (€241 million), E15.cz reports. It is the largest transaction carried out by domestic retail funds in the Czech Republic.