Over H1 2024, the office stock in the CEE region grew by 213,000 sqm, with the largest increase recorded in Budapest (78,300 sqm). The majority of the markets still experience subdued construction activity as vacancy rates remain higher than 10%. The development pipeline is largely dependent on pre-lease agreements, with a limited number of speculative starts. The only exception is Prague, where the under-construction volumes nearly doubled as compared to the end of 2023. The overall vacancy rate in the CEE capitals recorded a minimal increase over H1 2024 and stood at 11.6%, against 11.5% in Q4 2023. Muted construction activity will push the overall vacancy rate downwards in the mid-term. A decrease in availability will be more prominent in the prime market segment as occupiers follow „fly to quality” trend. JLL experts, in cooperation with iO Partners, present an analysis of the trends observed in the office market in Poland against the background of countries in the CEE region.

Contract renewals accounted for approximately 50% of office transactions in Bucharest during H1 2024, while the total demand fell to around 160,000 sqm, according to a Colliers report. 

For law firms, the office provides a work environment for legal teams but also serves as something of a showpiece in client and business partner relationships. In an era of changing work models, the evolving role of the office and the growing trend toward space optimisation in some sectors driven by rising costs, Cushman & Wakefield take a closer look at the legal sector’s needs and location decisions.

CTP has opened a new office Building I in the Vlněna complex, a former brownfield in Brno. PKV BUILD is one of its first tenants.

Recently, there has been significantly more activity in the Warsaw office market compared to regional markets, both in terms of demand and new investments. As of last year, the demand for office space in Warsaw has increased, while overall demand has decreased in the region. There are also more vacancies in the regional markets, says Walter Herz.

Romanian investor and developer River Development has announced its rebranding as Sema Real Estate, with all current and new projects to be reunited under this umbrella. 

According to a report published by Newmark Polska, occupier activity on Poland’s largest regional city office markets (Kraków, Wrocław, Tricity, Katowice, Poznań, Łódź, Lublin, Szczecin) remains stable, but tenants are increasingly focusing on workspace efficiency and looking for better quality offices. Almost 70% of the total leasing activity across the regions is concentrated in Kraków, Tricity and Wrocław. With office availability in existing buildings in regions remaining high and estimated at nearly 1.2 million sqm, developer activity remains limited.

In the first half of 2024, the trends that emerged last year were consolidated and intensified in Ukraine’s office and industrial real estate market. The situation has stabilized and the market is gradually returning to pre-war numbers. Iryna Nastych summarised the situation in an article prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.

The volume of office leasing in Bucharest amounted to 168,000 sqm during H1 2024, down 11% compared to the same period of last year, with the average new lease deal at more than 1,100 sqm, according to Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. 

The Romanian unit of Strabag has been selected as generator contractor for the construction of a new office building for PPF Real Estate in Bucharest.