One United Properties to begin development on former Rocar bus factory site

Real estate developer One United Properties plans to launch construction soon on its new project on the site of the former Rocar bus factory in Bucharest’s Sector 5. Last month, the company acquired the 21-hectare industrial platform from Austrian investor Immofinanz, part of the CPI Property Group.

The developer intends to build a residential complex comprising approximately 3,000 housing units. The first phase is scheduled for completion in 2028.

“We believe this will be an attractive project for the market, offering starting prices of EUR 1,500 per square meter at launch—lower than many older apartments currently available in Bucharest and even cheaper than units in nearby communist-era buildings,” said Victor Căpitanu, co-founder of One United Properties.

In addition to housing, the project will include recreational and sports facilities, commercial spaces, a park, and other amenities.

Source: Profit.ro

CBRE Reports Strong Industrial Leasing Activity in Q1, Close to Record Highs

The total volume of leasing activity in the industrial and logistics sector reached 204,400 sqm in the first quarter of the year, comparable to the record years 2023 and 2024, with Bucharest concentrating 62% of total transactions, CBRE Romania data shows.

Recent developments have delivered 67,500 sqm of new space, and another 300,000 sqm are expected by the end of the year, in a balanced pipeline that responds to the consistent demand coming from logistics, production and warehousing.

“The solid demand, spread across all regions of the country, and the interest of investors in Romania reconfirm our position as a strategic regional logistics hub,” points out Răzvan Iorgu, Managing Director & Head of Industrial & Logistics, CBRE Romania.

As for the retail sector, it continues to perform above expectations. The modern stock has grown to 4.51 million sqm, with deliveries of new retail parks, and by the end of 2025, another 188,000 sqm of commercial spaces are forecast.

“The Romanian retail market stands out not only for its robust pipeline, but also for the dynamism of local and international brands that are expanding their footprint, strengthening the attractiveness for investors,” adds Carmen Ravon, Head of Retail CEE, CBRE Romania.

STRABAG Romania reports 32% growth in order portfolio for 2024

STRABAG Romania, a subsidiary of European construction group STRABAG SE, closed 2024 with an order portfolio valued at EUR 653 million, representing a 32% increase compared to the previous year. Romania ranked among the group’s most dynamic markets, alongside Poland, Austria, and Slovakia.

At the group level, STRABAG SE reported a stable production volume of EUR 19.2 billion and a record order portfolio of EUR 25.4 billion, marking an 8% increase year-on-year. Net profit reached EUR 823 million, up 31% from 2023.

STRABAG has been active in Romania since 1991 and operates across key construction sectors, including road infrastructure, civil engineering, real estate development, and environmental projects. The company maintains regional offices in Bucharest, Timişoara, Cluj, Iaşi, Braşov, and Sibiu.

Crocs to open new stores in Palas Iași and RIVUS Cluj-Napoca

Footwear brand Crocs is expanding its presence in Romania with two new store openings. The company will launch its first location in the North-East region at the Palas Iași complex, marking its fifth store in the country. The opening is part of a new phase of redevelopment at Palas, guided by a design concept from the architecture firm Foster + Partners.

In addition, Crocs will open a store in the RIVUS mixed-use redevelopment project currently under construction in Cluj-Napoca.

“Palas Iași is a dynamic retail destination that combines fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment, making it a suitable location for Crocs,” the company said in a statement. “This store provides an opportunity to connect with a diverse community that values comfort, individuality, and fun—qualities central to the Crocs brand.”

Ambito expands its scope of services in real estate sector

Ambito, a company specializing in electrical installation design and implementation, is broadening its role in the real estate sector by becoming a general contractor for installation works in both residential and commercial buildings.

The company oversees technical projects from initial concept through execution to final delivery. Its services include integrated solutions for fitting out commercial spaces, covering design, construction, and maintenance tailored to individual client requirements.

Founded in 2007, Ambito has participated in the development of electrical installations for more than 7,000 housing units and over 250 commercial spaces. It has also completed full fit-outs for more than 60 retail stores, managing the process from design to execution. Additionally, the company has contributed to public lighting installations in over 20 towns in Romania.

“This year marks a stage of maturity for our company, which we acknowledge through a rebranding and internal restructuring,” said Robert Dorobanțu, CEO of Ambito. “We remain focused on providing technical solutions that meet the needs of each project and partner.”

Ambito has been involved in various projects in Bucharest, including Nusco City, Cloud9 Residence, Gate Office Building, Cyberjump, Douglas Perfumery, Jolie Village, Nusco Green Homes, and Politehnica Business Tower.

The company recently completed a rebranding process, led by brand strategist Mugurel Frîncu, transitioning from its previous name, Smart Lighting & Installations, to Ambito.

Albania’s planning agency approves Jared Kushner resort project

Albania’s territorial planning agency has granted a preliminary approval for a tourist project which Donald Trump’s son in law, Jared Kushner, is planning to develop on Sazan island, according to prime minister Edi Rama.

“It has received an approval in principle, an approval from the National Territorial Council to begin with. It will come back for a second approval, as required by law, and it will move forward,” Rama said.

Kushner must now submit technical documentation, detailed plans, environmental studies, ownership records, and territorial impact assessments to the agency in order to obtain a final approval.

The project with an estimated investment value of EUR 1.4 billion will be built on an area of 45 hectares.

Prime Batteries Builds New Factory in Cernica, Plans Additional Investment in Fundulea

The Romanian manufacturer Prime Batteries Technology, founded and controlled by the Romanian entrepreneur Adrian Polec, wants to build another factory, 200 meters away from the production unit already operating in Cernica, in order to expand production capacity and add new technological processes.

The new factory will include 3 buildings, one with 3 floors, another with 2 floors and a production and storage hall. The construction of these buildings alone, without equipment, costs around EUR 2.5 million.

In parallel, the company is preparing the construction of a factory in Fundulea, a giant investment, and construction works will begin in the coming period. Polec owns an 8.8-hectare plot of land on which it has authorized the construction of a new factory with a total capacity of 6 GWh, an investment of around EUR 700 million.

Source: Profit.ro

Building Permits for Residential Projects Rise 2.8% in Q1 2025

The number of building permits issued for residential buildings increased in the first three months of 2025 by 2.8%, to 7,630 permits, with increases recorded in the West (+155 permits), Center (+104), Southwest Oltenia (+35), Northwest (+32), Bucharest-Ilfov (+11) and Southwest Muntenia (+4), according to INS data. In contrast, decreases were recorded in the Northeast (-125 permits) and Southeast (-8) regions.

In March 2025, 3,095 building permits for residential buildings were issued, up 18.3% compared to February 2025 and 1.9% compared to March 2024. Of the total building permits for residential buildings issued in March, 69.4% are for rural areas. Thus, compared to March 2024, this year both the number of permits and the total usable area increased (+1.5%).

ebm-papst to invest EUR 30 million in new manufacturing plant and R&D center

The German group ebm-papst is accelerating the development of its operations in Romania through a strategic investment of EUR 30 million in a new production facility and a research and development (R&D) center in Oradea, on a 5.5-hectare plot of land acquired from the municipality. Completion of construction is estimated for May 2026.

In the first phase, the project will include a production hall, an office area, a warehouse and a service center that will also integrate an R&D hub, dedicated to the development of air technology. In the future, the company has foreseen the possibility of expanding the construction by another 10,000 square meters.
By 2030, the company aims to double the local workforce, from the current 500 employees to almost 1,000, of which 250 will work in the service center and 750 in production.

NBI: Almost half of the apartments purchased in Q1 in Bucharest are taken as an investment

The residential market in Bucharest remained on an upward trend in the first quarter of 2025, with the most dynamic area being the north of the capital – Floreasca, Aviaţiei, Pipera, Domenii, shows a study conducted by North Bucharest Investments.

NBI figures show that individual investors have the largest share among buyers, with 47%, in second place are people who purchase an apartment as a home, with 38%, and 15% represent relocations and corporate acquisitions. In general, homes under EUR 250,000, placed in locations with metro, international schools and with Aibnb potential for use, with a gross yield of 6-7%.

Across the entire Romanian real estate market, 161,842 transactions were completed in Q1 2025, up 4.5% compared to the same period in 2024.

“The results from the first part of the year demonstrate that the local residential market continues its maturation process, now reaching a much more settled and stable stage. At the same time, in a global market in constant change and transformation, developers maintain the accelerated pace of adaptation to new customer requirements. The share of real estate investors is directly proportional to the current stage of the market,” said Vlad Musteaţă, CEO of NBI.

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