Accolade's portfolio H1 2023 reached more than 1,300,000 sq m of leased space
In the first half of 2023, Accolade continued its commitment to the Polish warehouse sector, leasing 185,000 sq m of warehouse space, a similar level to that achieved in the same period last year. At a similar level until the first half of 2022, the number of new contracts remained at a similar level, with 103,500 sq m leased. The largest deals included agreements with Regesta for 32,900 sq m at a park in Ruda Śląska and with Kostal Automobil Elektrik for 17,000 sq m in Świdnik, where the latest project in the company's portfolio is located. What is more, Accolade doubled the size of its leased space as part of contract extensions with existing tenants. A total of 81,500 sq m has been leased in this way, and the largest deals include an agreement with Tyco Electronics Polska, which occupies 56,000 sq m in Park Szczecin I, and with Iveco for 16,500 sq m in Park Zielona Góra. At the end of the first half of 2023, the total warehouse space owned by Accolade was 1,300,000 sq m within 26 parks located throughout Poland. The total value of the managed portfolio is more than EUR 1.3 billion.
"These results confirm that Accolade is not only a trusted investor, but also an experienced asset manager. Although the first half of this year was full of challenges and uncertainties related to macroeconomic factors, our company, thanks to its local perspective and experience gained both in European markets and on the domestic ground, actively invests and flexibly reacts to the changing business environment. We believe in the potential of the Polish warehouse sector, which is why we successfully continue our work, focused on creating modern, environmentally friendly warehouse parks that contribute to the economic development of the country and meet the requirements of our customers," said Jarek Wnuk, managing director of Accolade in Poland.
Accolade's strong position is particularly noticeable in locations along the country's western border. The record holder in terms of leased space is the West Pomeranian region, where the investor offers warehouse parks totalling 420,000 sqm in Szczecin, Goleniów and Koszalin. The scale of the investment in this region prompted the investor to open its first regional office in Szczecin, with the aim of actively cooperating with the local community and creating even better conditions for building business relations, including with companies operating in and around Szczecin. Accolade is also very active in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship, with parks totalling almost 250,000 sqm in Bydgoszcz and the Lubuskie Voivodeship with 170,000 sqm parks in Zielona Góra.
"Poland is the undisputed leader in terms of newly built industrial facilities in our portfolio. Accolade, seeing the potential and importance of the markets in this part of Europe, has also consistently invested in the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovakia, and we are planning to enter further European markets. We believe that attractive locations, developed infrastructure and access to qualified staff, supported by our commitment to sustainable development, are the foundations for dynamic growth and increasing demand for industrial and logistics space in Europe," said Lukáš Répal, chief operating officer at Accolade.
In Poland, the investor is not only focused on developing its portfolio by investing in new locations, but is also expanding in those already occupied. One example is the completion and full leasing of the second park in Bialystok. A total of 80,000 sq m of parks remain available here. All of Accolade's investments have had a positive impact on the local economy and have created 12,500 new jobs across Poland.
A common feature of the parks is also the focus on ecology. Indeed, Accolade has created an investment opportunity assessment system that prioritises so-called brownfields. In the company's portfolio, investments on revitalised land account for as much as 30%. This commitment is evident in the BREEAM certificates obtained for all new parks. The developer aims for new parks to be certified at a minimum of Excellent. This year, Accolade was particularly honoured as Park Szczecin III received a BREEAM certificate at the Outstanding level, making it the first industrial building in Poland to be so highly certified.
The company does not limit itself to business initiatives, as evidenced by the creation of the Accolade Industrial Art programme, which introduced art into industrial spaces. In the first quarter of this year, as part of this initiative, an open-air exhibition dedicated to the industrial history of Zalom, where Accolade's largest industrial park in Poland, Park Szczecin I, is now located. In addition, educational programmes aimed at children and young people are also carried out on the initiative of the investor. An example of this is the ecological workshops conducted in Zielona Góra, during which pupils learned about the life of bees and understood their importance for the environment. Accolade also cooperates with the Theatre for One Smile, whose actors entertain children in hospitals. Such events are an integral part of Accolade's strategy, which emphasises building close and positive relationships with local communities.
