The Q4 2020 results of the RICS Global Commercial Property Monitor continue to point to a challenging backdrop across Europe. Both the office and retail sectors remain under significant pressure, with demand still falling sharply amid the difficult economic climate induced by the pandemic. On a brighter note, supported by structural tailwinds, the industrial sector continues to defy this downbeat overall assessment, prompting respondents to upgrade expectations for rental and capital value growth.

A quarter of all modern warehouse and industrial space in Poland was transacted in 2020, says real estate advisory firm Savills in its latest report. Despite the pandemic, take-up hit record levels last year, reaching more than 5 million sqm, while Poland’s total logistics stock surpassed the 20 million sqm mark.

Generation Park Y, the tallest Skanska office building in this part of Europe, located at Rondo Daszyńskiego in Warsaw, has just received the occupancy permit. According to the developer, this 140-meter-high building is the greenest skyscraper in the capital and  it will be the new headquarters of PZU Group providing workplaces for a few thousands of the company's employees.

Colliers has taken over the management of the second building of the Face2Face Business Campus office complex in Katowice, developed by Echo Investment and designed by Grupa 5 Architekci.

InPost, which owns a network of parcel lockers Paczkomaty®, will launch a new 6,000 sqm logistics centre in Prologis Park Chorzów. One of Poland’s largest logistics operators was advised on the transaction by real estate advisory firm Savills.

Over the last decade, industrial supply has more than tripled from 6.3 million sqm at the end of 2010 to almost 21 million sqm in 2020. However, this rapidly developing real estate sector is now showing signs of maturity. This is illustrated by new formats appearing especially in the largest agglomerations. An example of this is the urban warehouse segment analysed together by JLL and SEGRO in the first report of its kind, "Logistics Avenue: city logistics market in Poland".

pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank has provided an investment loan facility totalling €66.5 million for an office portfolio managed by GalCap Europe on behalf of an institutional client. The fund will utilise the proceeds for the refinancing of a mixed-use portfolio with assets in Budapest and Warsaw. pbb acted as arranger and sole lender under the facility.

Upon completing the acquisition of a 66% stake in Wrocław-based developer Archicom, Echo Investment is set to become the largest residential developer in Poland. Nicklas Lindberg, CEO of Echo Investment talked to Property Forum about the recent acquisition, dealing with the effects of the pandemic and Echo’s plans for the nearest months.

After reaching a roof height of 230 metres, Varso Tower became the tallest building in Poland. Now, after the installation of its 73-tonne and 80-metre spire, the Warsaw skyscraper has broken another record, becoming the tallest in the entire EU.

The manufacturer and distributor of household appliances continues its cooperation with MLP Group and remains a tenant at the MLP Pruszków I logistics park near Warsaw. The company will use nearly 23.5 thousand sqm of modern warehouse space.