SVN: Construction permits issued in Bucharest halved in the last three years

The number of construction permits issued for residential buildings located in Bucharest has almost halved, while the total usable area authorised for construction decreased by 62% in the last three years, according to a market report released by real estate consultant SVN Romania.

Thus, 272 construction permits for residential buildings were issued in Bucharest in the first nine months of 2024, 4.2% lower compared to the similar period of last year. 366 permits were issued in the first nine months of 2022, while in the first three quarters of 2021 were issued 496 construction permits – thus, the current number of permits is 45% lower than 2021´s level.

At the same time, the decrease in the total usable area authorised for construction in residential buildings in Bucharest is even more accentuated: the first nine months of 2024 brought a decrease of 62% compared to the level registered in the first nine months of 2021, reveals “SVN Romania Residential Market Drive” report.

”This drop registered in recent years already has a visible effect: the number of new homes delivered in Bucharest and its surroundings is at its lowest half-yearly level in the last five years, in a context in which home sales increased according to the official statistics. The current situation will continue in the coming years, which will translate into higher prices and a reduced accessibility. In addition, and just as important, there are investments of hundreds of millions of Euros, even billions, that Bucharest is losing due to the current urbanistic deadlock. And we are not only talking about residential projects that a developer does not build, but also office buildings, for example, which can lead to higher costs for companies and more difficult team expansions,” stated Andrei Sarbu, CEO SVN Romania.

Another effect is the redirection of the attention of some developers towards Bucharest´s limitrophe areas. In fact, 2023 brought a premiere from this point of view: Ilfov county surpassed Bucharest for the first time in terms of the total usable area authorised for construction in residential buildings, according to the data of the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) – a situation that was also recorded in 2024.

23% fewer new homes were delivered in Bucharest and its surroundings in the first half of 2024, compared with the first half of 2023. SVN Romania estimated in its spring report that 2024 could bring the lowest number of home deliveries registered in the last five years.
Almost 41,400 homes were sold in Bucharest in the first 10 months of 2024, up 11.3% compared to the first ten months of 2023, according to the data of the National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration. At the same time, the number of residential transactions closed in Bucharest – Ilfov region was 14.3% higher in the same period.

German group Henkel moves its headquarters to Equilibrium 2

German group Henkel, which has over 500 employees in Romania, will move its headquarters to the Equilibrium 2 office building, and the old headquarters in the Bucharest Floreasca district is being sold.

Henkel has leased about 4,000 square meters for the new headquarters located on the 10th and 11th floors of the Equilibrium 2 building, delivered by the Swedes from Skanska in December 2022. This is one of the largest rental transactions this year, excluding contract renewals.

In parallel, Henkel is in advanced discussions for the sale of the old headquarters, located near Verdi Park in the Floreasca district. The main reason for Henkel’s move is the need to have a more efficient headquarters, with updated facilities.

Both transactions are brokered by real estate services company iO Partners.

Source: Profit.ro

Topanel increases its production capacity by 85% with a second production line

Topanel Production Panels, one of the leading manufacturers of thermal insulation panels in Romania, has invested in a second thermal insulation panel production line. With an annual production capacity of 2.5 million square meters, this allows the company to increase its total annual production from 3 million to 5.5 million square meters of panels.

“Through this expansion, we strengthen TOPANEL’s position on the thermal insulation panels market and demonstrate our commitment to our partners and customers. Our objective regarding this investment is to offer high-quality thermal insulation panels, optimized delivery times and a competitive price-quality ratio,” said Irina Tănăsescu, Commercial Strategy Director at Topanel Production Panels S.A.

Moreover, Topanel, together with its partner ICCO Grup, is preparing the inauguration of a new factory located in Ghimbav, Braşov County, dedicated exclusively to the production of Thermotop PIR thermal insulation boards. This greenfield investment, worth approximately EUR 20 million, will be the largest production unit of this type in Southeastern Europe.

Giurgiu to have first paper factory to replace plastic bags in retail

Entrepreneur Vladimir Cohn is preparing to make a massive investment of around RON 1.4 billion (around EUR 285 million) in a paper production unit in Giurgiu. This project includes a significant state aid of RON 185.4 million (around EUR 37 million), and is considered the largest project financed through state aid schemes this session. Officially, the factory will produce special paper intended to replace plastic bags in stores.

The factory will start production on November 30, 2025 and will create 100 jobs in the first six months, with the number expected to reach 200 at full capacity, starting in January 2025.

Production estimates are around 120,000 tons annually, most of which will be for export, and the Giurgiu location was chosen due to its transport infrastructure and proximity to Bucharest.

Real estate developer NUSCO will issue bonds at Bucharest Stock Exchange

NUSCO, one of the most important and active players in the local real estate market, will list bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

NUSCO’s shareholders approved earlier this month the realization of the first project on the Romanian capital market and the start of the relationship with the local investment public, and the authorized advisor, BRK Financial Group, is in charge of the intermediary of the offering. “After 27 years of presence on the Romanian market and after many successful flagship projects, we have decided to move to a new stage from an investment point of view. Given that our products have been and are very secure, we consider it appropriate in our solid evolution to list our first bond issue on the Bucharest Stock Exchange”, states Michele Nusco – CEO – NUSCO.

This decision marks the company’s debut in investor relations and thus encourages both commercial and institutional investors to make an investment in a financial product backed by real estate assets and with a pre-determined yield and maturity. “In this way, an investor can invest in an affordable financial product in terms of value, with real estate exposure and a yield for the national currency that is significantly higher than the inflation rate,” according to Laurențiu Irimia – Corporate Manager – BRK Financial Group.

The project envisages the realization of financing through the issuance of guaranteed bonds, which will be subject to admission to trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. “We are glad that the developer NUSCO will also be present on the capital market, especially due to the fact that it is a relevant representative of the real estate industry in Romania and enjoys recognition for the quality of the projects it has realized,” adds Irimia.

This transaction represents NUSCO’s first step in the Romanian capital market as part of the company’s strategy to develop and diversify its sources of financing and strengthen its relationship with local investors. “We also believe that the real estate sector in Romania should be better represented in the Romanian capital market through the presence of a larger number of companies on the Bucharest Stock Exchange,” explains the representative of BRK Financial Group. According to him, local investors can thus diversify their investments, complementing their real estate investments with those on the capital market and having the option to invest in several companies.

Nhood Services backs Romanian Spartan restaurant chain’s global expansion

Nhood Services Romania has been selected to support the international expansion of the Romanian restaurant chain, Spartan. This partnership will facilitate the opening of new Spartan restaurants in Spain and the brand’s entry into the Polish market. Known for its modern take on Greek cuisine, Spartan operates in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) segment, offering an innovative alternative to traditional fast food, with 70 locations in Romania and one restaurant already established in Castellon, Spain.

Nhood has been appointed as a consultant for Spartan’s franchise expansion into Spain and Poland. The collaboration involves key activities critical to the brand’s long-term success in these new markets, including identifying and selecting franchise partners as well as finding the best locations for future Spartan restaurants. While Spain and Poland have distinct culinary traditions and specific market behaviors in the Food & Beverage sector, the QSR segment, in which Spartan operates, is experiencing growth, offering the Romanian brand a promising opportunity.

“The launch of our collaboration with Spartan marks an important milestone in diversifying our services, demonstrating Nhood’s ability to be a reliable partner for local brands in their international expansion efforts. We are excited to offer Spartan our full support, from finding local partners to selecting prime locations for their new restaurants, contributing to their success in Spain and Poland. Projects like this highlight Nhood’s development strategy, providing integrated solutions for ambitious brands ready to expand internationally,” stated Gabriela Piștalu, Head of Property & Asset Services at Nhood Services Romania.

“This collaboration is strategically significant for Nhood as it represents our first international expansion project for a brand via franchising, executed simultaneously in multiple countries. This partnership allows us to leverage our extensive real estate expertise and showcase our ability to manage complex projects across diverse European markets. At the same time, it confirms Nhood’s capacity to adapt its services to meet the specific needs of our clients, offering unified but tailored solutions based on our deep understanding of the local markets we operate in. Supporting brands in their international growth and helping them find the best solutions for sustainable development is a key priority for Nhood,” stated Bogdan Aldea, Head of Business Development at Nhood Services Romania.

Nhood Services Romania Partners with CIJ Awards Romania 2024

CIJ EUROPE is proud to announce that Nhood Services Romania will be a partner of the prestigious CIJ Awards Romania 2024, set to take place on December 4th at the Radisson Blu in Bucharest.

Nhood Services Romania is a dynamic real estate services company specializing in community engagement, mixed-use project operations and commercialization, asset management, and the development of sustainable projects. Acting on behalf of asset owners, it offers a comprehensive range of services from retail and residential to office spaces and community hubs, with the goal of transforming existing spaces into vibrant, livable places that foster a strong sense of community and enhance quality of life.

Nhood operates across three main business lines: Property & Asset Services (P.A.S.), Resources & Fund Investment (R.F.I.), and Development (DEV), each contributing to our mission to deliver real estate solutions with a positive social, environmental, and economic impact. The company is part of the Ceetrus and Nodi ecosystem, recognized for its impact within the European real estate and retail sectors.

Nhood Services Romania manages 25 mandates for retail and office spaces (including leasing), one business park – Coresi Business Campus, one residential project – Coresi AvantGarden, 21 retail site mandates across the country – Coresi Shopping Resort and Auchan Shopping Centers, and collaborates with over 15 clients, including Ceetrus and Auchan.

Additionally, it manages Romania’s largest urban regeneration project, Cartier Coresi, an emblematic project in Brașov that respects the past, enhances the present, and builds for the future.

Nhood brings together the expertise and real estate knowledge of over 1,000 professionals from 11 countries to regenerate and transform an initially managed portfolio of nearly 300 shopping centers across Europe, with a potential for 30,000 housing units within 40 real estate projects. The assets under Nhood’s management are valued at over 8 billion euros.

The CIJ Awards Romania 2024 will recognize outstanding achievements across various categories, including residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments. This high-profile event will bring together leading professionals and highlight the latest trends and successes in the Romanian real estate market. For more details about the event, please check out our website: https://awards.cijeurope.com/cij-awards-romania/#about

The French group Hermès has entered Romania

The French group Hermès, the manufacturer of Birkin bags, which are sold at a price of over USD 10,000 a piece, has opened its company in Romania through which it will operate its first store on the local market.

The company is headquartered in the America House building in the Victoria Square area.

In Central and Eastern Europe, Hermes is only present in Warsaw and Prague, with Bucharest being the 3rd city in the region that they choose.
Although the information has not been officially confirmed, the new Hermès store will be opened in the Romanian Athenaeum area, one of the most prestigious and emblematic areas in Bucharest, according to the market sources.

Source: Profit.ro

Angst puts up for sale several commercial spaces following insolvency

Creditors of Angst, one of the oldest meat producers in Romania, in insolvency since April of this year, have approved the auction of five commercial spaces worth EUR 3.6 million, announced Infinexa, the company’s judicial administrator.

“The General Meeting of Angst creditors approved the sale of four commercial spaces in Bucharest and one in Ilfov, with a total market value of EUR 3.6 million. The highest market value was assigned to the store at 60 Ion Brezoianu Street – EUR 1.4 million. The one at 1 Colentina Road was valued at EUR 1.2 million, the commercial space at 350 Pantelimon Road at EUR 274,000, and the one at 50 Regina Elisabeta Blvd. at EUR 549,000. The space at 43 Bucharest-Târgovişte Road has an estimated market value of EUR 154,600,” the court administrator said in a statement.

The assets will be realized individually, through public auctions, with an increasing price, starting from the value approved by creditors, respectively the market value of the assets realized.

MEDCITY begins work on the first dedicated medical hub in Timisoara

MEDCITY announces the start of work on the first medical hub in Timisoara. MEDCITY’s objective is to transform a commercial building into a reference ecosystem in the healthcare sector, which will facilitate access to medical services offered by operators in the field.

The building will have a leasable area of approximately 1,100 sqm, distributed over four floors, and will be dedicated exclusively to medical services and related activities. The investment in this project amounts to 7 million euros, which consists of the reconversion of the building and the provision of state-of-the-art equipment. Currently, 40% of the MEDCITY Timișoara project is already rented, with the building set to be inaugurated in spring 2025.

“MEDCITY Timișoara will be more than just a medical facility; it will function as a collaborative space, where top medical service providers will come together under one roof to provide high-quality care to the local community. We are eager to inaugurate this medical destination of excellence, which we are convinced will become a point of reference for the entire community,” stated Alexandros Diamantis, Managing Director of MEDCITY.

Source: economica.net

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