Milan Kratina, CEO of Czech-based logistics developer Accolade talked to Property Forum about investment plans, environmental awareness and the current eagerness of banks to finance new warehousing projects.

Economic progress inevitably brings increased demand for electric energy. In a historical context, coal-fuelled growth in the 19th century, oil facilitated the expansion of the global economy in the 20th century and data is stoking today’s economic progress. Data centres are the most rapidly growing segment of real estate and operating them requires an enormous amount of energy. Janusz Gutowski, CEO AXI IMMO Services at the AXI IMMO Group highlights the key issues around data centres’ demand for energy and explains what the alternative sources of energy for the sector are. 

The demand for warehouses has increased by a quarter in recent months. Tenants are mostly interested in Greater Poland and Mazovia Provinces. The market is growing on average by 16 per cent per year, while as much as 2.5 million sqm of warehouse space is under construction, says Walter Herz

Panattoni is developing 65,000 sqm in Panattoni Park Poznań West Gate and on completion will have delivered over a million sqm in the region. The developer is building a distribution centre with over 100 loading docks. The entire project is to be BREEAM certified with a rating of 'Excellent'. The complex will be completed in March 2022

Panattoni is launching Wrocław Campus 39, its largest project in Lower Silesia. The developer has already leased almost 85,000 sqm of the park to two tenants – 78,000 sqm of which will be used for e-commerce. Currently, 160,000 sqm is under construction, half of which will be ready in September this year. Campus Wrocław 39 will eventually offer 200,000 sqm and is to be BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certified.

The data centre market in Poland is worth over PLN 2 billion, according to a PMR report. The number of local companies that are deciding to outsource IT services and implement cloud solutions is growing. This trend means that international technology giants and companies from the CEE region are looking to establish a presence in Poland. In response to their needs, 7R, as part of its expansion strategy, has decided to expand its offer to include data processing centers.

Arvato Supply Chain Solutions in Poland is set to open another order fulfilment centre at Prologis Park Poznań III. The new BTS, totaling more than 48,000 square meters at Prologis Park Poznań III, will join the company’s other Prologis facilities with a total combined area of over 77,000 square meters at Prologis Park Błonie and Prologis Park Stryków II.

The Museum of Modern Art (MSN) in Warsaw is to lease 2,000 sqm of space in the Hillwood Warszawa Targówek warehouse investment. JLL represented the MSN during the negotiations.

Panattoni is to increase the supply of warehouse space in Bielsko-Biała, an industrial area bordering Silesia and Małopolska. The developer has started construction work on another park in the region - Panattoni Park Bielsko Biała IV. Three buildings with a combined area of 96,000 sqm are under construction, all of which are to be completed this year. The entire project is being developed in line with the Go Earthwise with Panattoni policy for sustainable development, which means that the project is to be certified under BREEAM for a rating of ‘Very Good’. The company’s three other parks in the region have now been fully leased out.

According to Cresa Poland analysts, modern class A warehouses are now far more superior than out-of-town facilities built 10-15 years ago. They provide top-grade space in terms of location, accessibility and warehousing solutions.