The authorities in Poland’s Silesian Voivodeship are building a region with a diversified, modern economic structure.
The Silesian Voivodeship is undoubtedly one of Poland’s key regions. It can boast highly qualified employees with unique skills, the highest population (about 370 people per square kilometre) and urbanisation ratios, which translates into a wide market, the densest road network, a very well-developed extensive logistics zone, warehouse space (about five million square metres), and 700,000 square metres of Class A office space in Katowice, the region’s capital, alone. Another 70,000 square metres is already under construction.
The ambition of the Silesian Voivodeship authorities is to build a region with a diversified, modern economic structure thanks to the innovation and creativity of its businesses, of which there are more than 500,000 in the region.
The development of companies provides an opportunity to acquire new skills, implement modern technologies and join international supply chains. The region is therefore creating the right space to invest, develop competencies and establish business relationships.
Despite the difficult situation in the markets which affects all industries, in 2023 there will be a continuation of major investments that not only contribute to increasing the quality of life in cities, but also foster the creation of new jobs and drive the economy.
Infrastructure investment
At the same time, it should be strongly emphasized that the Silesian Voivodeship is consistently investing in the economic and social development of the region through huge infrastructure investments, like road and rail investment projects, as well as investments in Silesian Park (Park Śląski), which is one of the largest spaces of its kind in Europe (the construction of the Fala Swimming Pool and a new section of the Elka chairlift).
The Voivodeship is implementing the Kolej Plus (Railway Plus) programme, which was developed in cooperation with local governments. Its implementation will improve the living conditions of residents and increase the attractiveness of the region. The value of railroad investments in the Silesian Voivodeship is more than 1.5 billion Polish złoty. Works are also progressing on the railroad line to Pyrzowice Airport. The completion of the investment is scheduled for the last quarter of 2023.
The road investments implemented here are worth more than five billion Polish złoty. According to the General Directorate for National Roads and Highways (GDDKiA), most of this money is destined for the construction of the S1 expressway. The indicated investment projects create an excellent space and build the infrastructure necessary for the implementation of further private investments. The Silesian Voivodeship is a beneficiary of the largest operational programme in history, worth more than five billion euros; these funds will be pumped into the regional economy.
Office market
The office market continues to develop dynamically and both tenants and developers see its potential. Last year, several important investments were commissioned, including the second KTW tower by TDJ Estate, the Global Office Park by Cavatina, the Carbon Office and the DL Tower.
After the success of the Global Office Park, Cavatina Holding has launched another project in Katowice – the Grundmanna Office Park. The two buildings, located on Grundmanna Street, will offer a total of 48,000 square metres of workspace, including flexible coworking spaces. This office complex will also include attractive outdoor areas and green terraces of more than 1,000 square metres. Retail and service premises have been designed on the ground floor.
Konduktorska Street in Katowice is the place where two of the most energy-efficient office buildings in Poland — ECO City Katowice — are being constructed. The complex has achieved the highest rating in the European Union, of 94 per cent, under BREEAM certification. This new investment by GPP SA will provide 30,000 square metres of office space, and nearly 60 per cent will be occupied by green areas.
Another important investment is the Craft office building being built in Katowice on Chorzowska and Ściegiennego streets. The construction began at the end of 2020. The office space of this 14-storey building will amount to nearly 27,000 square metres.
It is also worth mentioning the Murckowska complex of office buildings whose investor is Opal. The complex is being built in Katowice, in the area of Murckowska and Bagienna streets. The construction of the buildings began in 2020 and will be completed in 2023. The office space of these six-storey buildings will reach more than 26,000 square metres. The completion of further investments, such as Moderna, DL Piano and the DL Tower, is scheduled for 2024.
The evolution of the office market in the capital of the region is impressive. The expectations of potential tenants are also being taken into account, hence the construction of energy-efficient office buildings, offers of serviced offices or flex space. The number of mixed-use projects that enliven the urban fabric is also increasing. The growing popularity of mixed-use investments is beginning to change the way urban residents live, work and spend their leisure time.
It is clear that the retail facilities market is already saturated. Some 20 per cent of Poland’s warehouse space is located in the Silesian Voivodeship, which accounts for about five million square metres, and the huge demand for this type of space means that another 600,000 square metres is already under construction.
For example, Hillwood Polska recently began the construction of a modern logistics centre in Częstochowa. Panattoni has announced an investment near Pyrzowice Airport, where an industrial complex of more than 200,000 square metres will be built on an area of 45 hectares. At the end of November 2022, Panattoni also announced another investment in Ruda Śląska.
In the sector of office space, warehouses or retail facilities in the Silesian Voivodeship, supply is keeping pace with demand, while there is certainly still room for expansion in the hotel sector associated with business tourism. Business tourism is becoming an important segment of the regional tourism market. The region has great potential in this area, thanks to facilities such as the MCK International Congress Centre, Spodek Arena, Gliwice Arena or Silesian Stadium (Stadion Śląski).
Accommodation
The business, cultural and sports events taking place in the Silesian region make it necessary to create a broad base of sleeping accommodation facilities. The pandemic period delayed hotel investments across the whole of Poland, including the Silesian Voivodeship.
Currently, investors are resuming work on hotel facilities in our region. It is enough to mention the Hotel Katowice, which will be extensively upgraded to a four-star standard. The work is expected to take a year and a half in order for the hotel to be able to receive guests in June 2024 under a new name.
After an almost two-year break, one of Poland’s largest hotel chains has restarted work on the construction of the Qubus Hotel Katowice. And in the location of the former Silesia Hotel, in turn, a complex of modern buildings with a hotel and office function will be developed. A hotel with an area of about 5,000 square metres and two office buildings with an area of 30,000 square metres will enrich the offer of the very centre of Katowice.
In recent years, the Silesian Voivodeship was visited by nearly six million people per year, which delivered about six billion Polish złoty per year to the region. All this results in the fact that the region is an attractive destination for organising business events and is also a tourist and leisure destination.
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