The Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIR) and real estate developer Iulius are proposing a large-scale mixed-use project around the existing Romexpo Exhibition Center in Bucharest. The €2.87 billion investment plan would the see creation of the city’s largest business district with over 30,000 new jobs, museums and a multi-use event hall, a new park and green urban connections, a retail and lifestyle centre and 12,000 parking spaces.

A new record level of modern industrial, office and retail projects is expected to be delivered in 2020, as developers announced projects of over 1.2 million square meters, according to the latest Bucharest City Report published by JLL.

In 2018, retail investment volume reached a record high of €2.5 billion in Poland. Retail was the second most sought-after sector after offices, accounting for 34% of all investment activity in Poland. Paweł Nowakowski, Head of Capital Markets at Cresa Poland, predicts in the latest “Retail Occupier Economics” report that this year may be equally good for Poland.

Ikea will open a new pop-up store on Wenceslas Square in Prague’s heart on 20 September. The 800 sqm shop will focus on showing customers a range of options they have for their living rooms.

GTC continues its growth strategy and further expands its portfolio in Sofia. The developer and asset manager purchased Mall of Sofia, a prime shopping centre and office tower in Sofia’s Central Business District, seizing opportunity in the growing economy in Bulgaria. The property was formerly owned by Europa Capital.

In 2017 the residential market took the lead in terms of land deals, recording all-time highs for both the number and value of sale/purchase contracts. The market for land suitable for office buildings and hotels also continued apace in 2017. The appetite of developers for new purchases was underlined by deals for several dozen properties throughout Poland, according to JLL.

Last year, in a landmark deal, CPI Property Group has acquired 11 CEE retail assets from funds managed by CBRE Global Investors. Country Manager Mátyás Gereben talked to us about the company’s future plans for Hungary and revealed what’s in store for the five assets – shopping centres Pólus and Campona, the Andrássy Complex and two Interpsar stores – that were added to CPI’s Hungarian portfolio as a result of the €650 million deal.

A scheme from the portfolio of IKEA Centres Polska S.A. will for the first time be managed externally. Centrum Franowo, completed within 15 months and delivered to the market at the end of September this year, comprises 15 000 sqm GLA, out of which 7 500 sqm on level 0 is dedicated to retail and services, while the remaining 7 500 sqm on level +1 will be used for offices.

South African fund Hystead has acquired of The Mall, one of the largest shopping centres in Bulgaria, located in the capital city Sofia. The acquisition, upwards of €156 million, represents the fourth investment in the region by Hystead Limited, a joint venture between Hyprop Investments and Homestead Limited, who previously acquired the Delta City shopping centres in Podgorica and Belgrade alongside Skopje City Mall in Macedonia at the end of 2016.