There is currently 1.66 million sqm of office space under development in Poland, of which 965,000 is located outside Warsaw. Historically, this is the highest construction activity registered on Poland's regional markets, JLL reports. During the first three months of 2017, companies signed lease agreements for 371,700 sqm of office space, of which 177,700 sqm was leased on markets outside Warsaw. 

Over time, some office locations enhance their position in the eyes of tenants while others – lose popularity. The reason for this change usually results from communication infrastructure as its development can create new business regions. JLL has taken a closer look at tenants’ preferences regarding office locations on major Polish markets based on concluded lease agreements. The company focused solely on new deals – excluding renewals of already existing contracts and expansions – signed in Warsaw (in 2012 and 2016), and Kraków, Wrocław, Tri-City, Katowice, Poznań and Łódź (in 2011 and 2016).

During the last three years, companies have leased nearly 4 million sqm of modern office space in Poland. Taking the dynamic development of firms into consideration, 2017-2019 can generate office demand of up to 5 million sqm, JLL predicts.

Nearly half a million square meters of modern office space was delivered to the office market in the key Polish regional cities in 2016. The leader’s position was retained by Kraków, Lesser Poland’s capital, followed by, amongst others, Wrocław and the Tri-City. According to the report’s authors at BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland, current pipeline projects will also support the high growth dynamics in 2017.

Building G, the 7th element of the Bonarka for Business (B4B) office complex in Kraków, has been just handed over. The 100% built-to-suit, eight-storey Class A office building has 10,000 of sqm GLA and will host Euroclear, a Belgium-based financial services company. Having closed 8,000 sqm of lease renewals and new leases in the last months, TriGranit plans the delivery of further 3 office buildings in B4B in the near future. 

Invesco Real Estate (IRE), a global real estate investment manager, has acquired the 232-room Sheraton Grand Hotel Krakow for €70 million on behalf of one of its UK pension fund separate account clients. The seller was hotel investor Algonquin.

The Octava FIZAN fund is in the process of acquiring a portfolio of 11 office and retail assets in Poland, including Onyx in Kraków and Centrum Krakowska 61, Renaissance Tower and Eureka Park in Warsaw, from two BPH FIZ funds. Savills is advising the buyer on the transaction, which is expected to be finalized by the end of H1 2017. The parties did not reveal the value of the acquired assets, but the estimated value significantly exceeds €100 million.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, a member of international Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, has announced the signing of the first Radisson RED in the Central Europe. The newly built Radisson RED Krakow is expected to be completed by fall of 2019.

TriGranit, celebrating its 20th anniversary in business in 2017, will this year launch its newest development in Budapest, the Millennium Gardens office building that will provide 37,000 sqm GLA for future tenants from H2 2019 on the banks of the Danube, next to MÜPA and the prospective Congress Centre. In 2017, the company also plans to start the development of Building H, the eighth building in its office complex in Krakow, Bonarka for Business (B4B), providing 10,000 sqm GLA, and plans to start the second phase of Lakeside Park in Slovakia with 13,000 sqm GLA. 

EPAM, an international company which is involved in the development of software and implementation of IT projects, has leased an office area of nearly 3,500 sqm in O3 Business Campus which is being developed by Echo Investment in Kraków. CBRE advised EPAM in the leasing process.