Slight growth in logistics and retail space rents, despite no new mall expansion or openings being planned. These are the trends for the beginning of 2023, according to the latest report from Cushman & Wakefield Forton.

The first hostel with sleeping capsules has opened in Sofia. Green Cube is a low-budget hostel, which design follows the model of the unique Japanese lodgings with miniature rooms with individual sleeping capsules. The hostel is located next to the central railway and bus station of Sofia.

SOF Connect, the operator of Sofia Airport, announced its plans for accelerated investment in Sofia Airport by the end of 2025. More than €50 million annually will be invested in the expansion of the airport in the next three years. This will increase to €60 million or two-thirds more than what is stipulated in the concession contract.

The Lastavice development project in Belgrade, Serbia, has just completed its rough construction. The first building of the project, which will offer almost 500 flats and require an investment of more than CZK 2 billion (€84 million), will be completed by the Czech developer UDI Group in spring 2024, while the construction of the second of the project's two buildings will begin at that time.

The largest office complex in Central and Eastern Europe – Business Park Sofia, started its long-term transformation into a greener and more active urban space that offers complete experiences, recreation, and culture to its residents and guests.

Sofia's office market is moving at two speeds, with projects in the prime segment performing distinctly better than the rest of the market. These are the main insights of the latest report by Cushman & Wakefield Forton. The hybrid model of work is permanently imposed and breaks the link between business growth and hiring new space, especially in the segment of IT and BPO companies

According to Dr Aleš Pustovrh at the EECFA, which conducts research on the construction markets of 8 Eastern European countries, residential construction boom in Slovenia continues and is set to peak this year. Nevertheless, with increasing interest rates on mortgage loans, residential construction will be facing significantly lower demand in the second half of 2023.

Swedish furniture brand Ikea has opened an expanded order centre in Mall Galleria, Burgas. It features 140 sqm of retail space, a new kitchen designing studio with a showroom and four additional planning areas.

According to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute, the number of newly built residential buildings in the first quarter of 2023 was 1 289, and the number of newly built dwellings was 4,427.

Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated the Silver Star complex on 52 Chelopeshko Shose, just outside of Sofia, Bulgaria. The complex is located in an area of 65,000 sqm, on two floors, and offers all sales and after-sales services for cars, trucks, vans, and buses.