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In 2015 was launched the construction of a new office project called – Kambanite, which is expected to be ready by July this year. The company that owns the plot of 10.7 thousand sq. m and invests in the construction plans to offer a multifunctional building of the highest class, that covers the criteria for green buildings and urban constructions. The same company has already invested in the construction of the new office building where the HP headquarters in Bulgaria is based. That is why the company sees the new project for an office building in Sofia as part of the expansion in that region of the capital.

The company has already declared that it has many other plots of land close to the ring road and has plans to build on them. Yet, there are still no projects in mind but even so most probably they will be focused on the construction of business centers for the software and outsourcing companies. The total unfolded built-up area of the office center “Kambanite” will be 13.5 thousand sq.m, where the office premises that will be rented are 10.1 thousand sq.m. In addition, the project will have a restaurant and 215 parking lots. There is a serious interest in the project and many existing and new tenants coming from the IT and outsourcing sphere. Mladost region is also appealing as a residential zone, suitable for the families with children and the young professionals working in one of the office centers in that part of Sofia.

The Ring road of Sofia has become quite appealing to the companies based in Sofia or planning to outsource their business in the city ever since the construction and the successful launch of Business Park Sofia. This modern business venue completely changed the atmosphere and the overall appearance of the region and marked the start of new type of projects in the real estate sphere in Sofia city. This new business zone of the capital is a natural consequence of the growth of each city and is a focal point for certain businesses.

Business Park Sofia is functioning ever since 2001, and once it was constructed the region was built in with several large retail and shopping projects like Sofia Ring Mall, Arena Cinema Center, Tehnopolis, IKEA, Decathlon, Residential Park Sofia, etc. The new office projects in Sofia that are planned to be constructed in the area include the multi-functional complex Garitage Park, and the nearby Kambanine Building. The business zone of the capital is now providing offices, commercial centers, hotel, zones for recreation and many dining places. The business park with its offices and the area around are highly appealing to the outsourcing and the IT business.

Sofia offices market saw an active search in the last three months, a tendency that was going on in the first five months of 2016 as well. The main factor for this market situation is the increased interest and need towards expansion of the offices that have been previously rented. This interest mainly comes from the BPO centers and the IT companies and it resulted in the creation of many new office projects. In 2015 only in Sofia city were completed more than 105 000 sq.m of offices. Great deal of them were rented before the office centers were even completed. That is why the current supply of office premises on the market is still insufficient.

The Sofia office market is being driven by the interest of the new tenants and the expansion of the companies that are already on the market. The average size of the rented offices in 2015 was 1200 sq.m. – a fact that confirms the need of the companies for more spacious offices. The offices that are planned to be completed in 2016 are only 70 000 sq.m., in smaller office buildings great part of which for the investor companies own usage. This means that the lack of high-quality office buildings will not be dealt with in 2016 as well and the tendency for renting offices that are still under construction will remain valid. The completion of the larger office projects is planned for the first half of 2017.

The demand for spacious offices of class A in Sofia city is so serious that currently are being signed rental contracts for office premises located in business centers that are still in construction and are expected to be completed in 2017. The pre-lease of office premises in Sofia city is something normal today and if 70 000 sq.m of offices are to be ready this year, the rest will be completed in the first half of the year ahead.

The average size of the office premises that were rented in 2015 was around 1200 sq.m. and the tendency is for the companies to look for even larger offices. This indicator confirms the positive tendency for renting bigger offices in Sofia thanks to the serious business growth of the companies in the outsourcing and the IT sphere.

The main tendencies concerning the office market in Sofia in the last quarter of 2015 included an active search for office premises and a slight increase in the rental levels. The increased interest for company expansion and rental of offices mainly by the IT and outsourcing companies led to many new office projects.

According to data offered by Forton, in 2015 were completed more than 105 000 sq.m of offices, most of which however were rented before the office buildings got permission for usage. Due to that fact, the quality provision of offices remains insufficient and cannot answer the serious demand for office premises in Sofia. The average size of the rented offices in 2015 was around 1200 sq.m.

Currently 200 000 sq.m of office premises are being in process of construction in Sofia yet only 70 000 sq.m are expected to be completed in 2016. The active demand for offices and the limited supply of suitable office premises led to a slight increase in the rental levels of the offices of class A, which now start at around 12.5 Euros.