News Article Ports drive Tricity's office market growth
by Import Sys | Office

In 2017, Tricity’s office space absorption hit a record high of 79,400 sqm, compared to the five-year average of more than 58,000 sqm. Leasing conditions in the region hold stable, says tenant-only real estate advisory firm Cresa.


“The record performance of Tricity’s ports and major port and transport improvements have had a positive impact on the region’s office market. Tricity’s office market is attracting growing interest from businesses intent on taking advantage of the recent upturn in shipbuilding and logistics,” said Michał Rafałowicz, Head for the Pomeranian Region at Cresa Poland.
 
At year-end 2017, Tricity’s office stock totalled 696,400 sqm. Eight office schemes were delivered to the market last year, including the third phase of Alchemia (36,000 sqm, Torus), BCB Business Park – B2 (9,250 sqm, Bałtyckie Centrum Biznesu) and Tensor Z (6,600 sqm, Euro Styl). Nearly 149,000 sqm is currently under construction. Tricity’s tallest office building Olivia Star (approximately 40,000 sqm, Olivia Business Centre), which is scheduled for delivery this year, is nearing completion.
 
At the end of 2017, there was 56,800 sqm of vacant space, accounting for 8.1% of this region’s total stock (a 2.9 p.p. decrease year-on-year). Last year’s office take-up totalled 117,700 sqm, up by nearly 26% on the transaction volume recorded in 2016.
 
“Tricity saw a record level of occupier demand in 2017. Given the supply forecasts for 2018 and the anticipated healthy occupier activity, rents are expected to remain flat at EUR 13-14.5/sqm/month in Class A office buildings and at EUR 10-11.5/sqm/month in Class B buildings,” said Bolesław Kołodziejczyk, PhD, Head of Research & Advisory at Cresa Poland.
 
Cresa analysts expect the SSC sector to expand further benefiting from high quality of life and presence of many university-level schools in Tricity. The region is home to operational centres set up by investors from 19 countries with services provided in 33 languages. The business services sector is expected to maintain its growth momentum in Tricity in the upcoming years.