Tuesday, 3 November 2026
REDPORT has secured the building permit for the first phase of INFINITY NORD, a residential and mixed-use development planned on more than 4.6 hectares in the Străulești-Dămăroaia area of northern Bucharest. The project, developed in partnership with businessman Dan Șucu, founder of Mobexpert, will comprise approximately 1,200 homes across three phases, alongside retail, services and leisure facilities.
Site preparation has begun, with completion of the first phase targeted for the fourth quarter of 2028. Auchan and World Class have already agreed to occupy approximately 95% of the commercial space planned for the initial stage.
In an interview with CIJ.World, Bogdan Gubandru of REDPORT discusses the revised construction timetable, the responsibilities of developers and public authorities for supporting infrastructure, and the technical and environmental standards being incorporated into the project.
CIJ.World: INFINITY NORD was initially expected to enter construction earlier, with subsequent indications that work would begin in the third or fourth quarter of 2026, subject to permitting. What is the current status, and what are the revised construction and delivery dates?
Bogdan Gubandru: REDPORT obtained the building permit for Phase I during the summer of 2026, allowing the project to move into site preparation. Following its official launch in September, land clearing began and construction fencing was installed. Completion of the first phase is now targeted for Q4 2028.
The timetable reflects the increasingly complex regulatory environment affecting residential development in Bucharest. Changes to urban planning requirements, building authorisation procedures, energy-performance standards and taxation have created additional challenges for developers. The absence of an updated General Urban Plan, combined with uncertainty surrounding PUZ and PUD procedures, has also made planning and scheduling more difficult across the market.
Our priority has been to ensure that the development complies with the applicable requirements before moving into construction. Securing the permit represents an important milestone, particularly as buyers and investors are paying closer attention to authorisations, financing, delivery schedules and execution risks.
The development will proceed in three successive phases. While we have established a completion target for Phase I, the schedules for the subsequent phases have not yet been announced.
CIJ.World: The development will introduce approximately 1,200 homes and substantial commercial facilities into an area where infrastructure has not always kept pace with residential construction. What improvements will REDPORT deliver or finance, and which remain the responsibility of Bucharest Municipality or Sector 1?
Bogdan Gubandru: REDPORT will provide the infrastructure directly associated with the development, including internal access roads, pedestrian circulation, utility connections, technical installations and landscaped communal areas. The project will also incorporate retail and service facilities intended to meet residents’ everyday needs.
Public transport accessibility is an important consideration. INFINITY NORD is situated near the planned metro connection to Henri Coandă International Airport, and a bus stop is envisaged in relation to the development. However, decisions regarding routes, frequencies and integration with the wider public transport network rest with the relevant authorities and operators.
The same distinction applies to external road infrastructure. We are responsible for works within the project and for obligations established through the permitting process. REDPORT has also committed to contributing to a Sector 1 fund supporting the construction of schools and kindergartens. Broader road improvements, traffic management, public transport extensions and additional educational facilities remain the responsibility of the municipality and sector authorities.
Large residential projects inevitably place additional demands on surrounding infrastructure. Developers can finance facilities within their own sites, but wider transport connections, public services and urban planning require coordination with local government. Effective cooperation between the public and private sectors is therefore necessary to ensure that infrastructure can accommodate new residential development.
CIJ.World: REDPORT previously outlined plans for smart-building technology, photovoltaic systems and sustainable mobility. Which commitments are now part of the technical specifications, and will INFINITY NORD pursue recognised environmental certification or measurable energy and carbon-performance targets?
Bogdan Gubandru: Smart-home technology, which is already part of REDPORT’s residential specifications, will be incorporated into INFINITY NORD, together with smart-building systems and photovoltaic panels. The buildings are also being designed to comply with nearly zero-energy building (nZEB) requirements under Romania’s energy-performance regulations.
These requirements are now part of the regulatory framework rather than optional environmental measures. They influence building design, technical documentation and the selection of energy systems, with implications for long-term operating costs and energy efficiency.
We are examining the possibility of obtaining additional environmental or energy-efficiency certification, although no particular scheme has yet been formally selected. We intend to announce a certification target only when the technical requirements, documentation and assessment process have been confirmed.
The mixed-use layout is also intended to reduce the need for some routine journeys by providing access to shopping, services and wellness facilities within the development. The commercial component of the first phase includes agreements with Auchan and World Class.
More detailed environmental indicators, including projected energy consumption, photovoltaic generation capacity, water-management performance, green-space ratios and operational carbon emissions, are still being finalised. These figures will be communicated once the relevant technical documentation is complete. Our objective is to ensure that environmental commitments can be supported by measurable and verifiable performance data.
Source: © CIJ EUROPE
