POLAND Law and Practice Contributed by: Michał Wielhorski, Mateusz Prokopiuk, Małgorzata Wąsowska and Klaudia Michalec, act legal Poland
den (13,900 m²), National Development Bank at Varso Place 2 (13,600 m²) and Citi Bank Services at T-Mobile Office Park (13,100 m²). Choosing central locations The Warsaw office market has seen a growing demand for central locations. In 2024, 104,400 m² of new office space was delivered – an increase of more than 71% from the previous year. Despite this rise, the volume of space deliv - ered is still below the historical average. New office space was mainly concentrated in projects located in the city centre (83%). Sustainable solutions A sustainable approach to property design and management remains a dominant trend in the real estate market. Tenants and investors are opting for buildings with facilities and ecological certificates, such as WELL, BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assess - ment Method) or LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certificates – something that is also linked to tenants’ increasing aware - ness of and the growing emphasis on energy efficiency. The use of green technologies makes it possible not only to reduce CO₂ emissions, but also to optimise operating costs. Retail Space Market 2024 saw further development of the trend that emerged in 2020 for the dominance of retail parks as the preferred building format in the retail space market. In the first quarter of 2024, all new retail space was retail parks. Projections presented for 2025 indicate that the market will continue to focus on this format, with up to 70% of retail parks expected to be built. Owing to the large number of shopping centres in Polish cities, investments in new shopping malls appear to be limited. In 2024, there was a
decrease of approximately 30% in the number of construction projects started compared to the previous year, and a 7% drop compared to the average of the past three years. Taking this into account, a lower supply of new retail space is expected in 2026–27. In 2024, Poland ranked second in Europe in terms of newly delivered space for retail parks and shopping centres, accounting for approxi - mately 14% of the total space built in Europe. 1.3 Proposals for Reform Obligation to Adopt Master Plans According to the current wording of the Spatial Planning and Development Act, by 31 December 2025, all municipalities in Poland are obliged to adopt master plans, which will replace the cur - rent studies of spatial development conditions and directions. It should be emphasised that work is currently underway on an amendment to the aforementioned Spatial Planning and Devel - opment Act, which provides for an extension of the validity of municipalities’ existing spatial development conditions and directions studies until 30 June 2026, along with an extension of the deadline for municipalities to adopt master plans until 30 June 2026 as well. According to the new regulations, the arrange - ments contained in the master plan will be bind - ing for zoning plans and decisions on land devel - opment conditions. Master plans will apply to the entire territory of the municipality. Decisions on land development conditions issued from 1 January 2026 (or from 1 July 2026 if the afore - mentioned amendment enters into force) will no longer be perpetual – the new decisions on zon - ing conditions will be valid for five years from the date on which they become legally valid.
763 CHAMBERS.COM
Powered by FlippingBook