Shopping centre development activity is largely concentrated in emerging markets, with a large proportion (74percent) taking place in Eastern Europe. Similar to last year, Turkey is forecast to remain the most active market with around 3.7 million sq m of shopping centre space under construction. Istanbul will be the most active development market in the coming years with 37 centres currently under construction, including Axis Eyüp AVM with a Gross Leasable Area (GLA) of 150,000 sq m, and Yeni İstanbul (GLA of 137,684 sq m).

Europe’s other highly active shopping centre development market is Russia (2.88 million sq m) which, like Turkey, is benefiting from strong economic growth and rising incomes. The majority of this development is concentrated in Moscow, with 1.4 million sq m of space due to open over the next two to three years.

Ukraine (789,888 sq m), Poland (750,467 sq m), Italy (665,779 sq m) and France (648,200 sq m), also have significant amounts of shopping centre space under construction. In Italy, however, development activity is slowing, which is reflected in the slowing down of the completions for the projects already under construction and the lack of new openings during the first half of 2013. For Ukraine, the space currently under construction represents 38percent of its total shopping centre space, thus adding significant space to its retail market upon completion.

While there is significant new shopping centre space planned for construction over the next three years, the reality is that, like in Italy, developments are taking longer to complete than was previously the case and therefore completions are likely to be delayed.

Across Europe, 100 shopping centres totalling 3.44 million sq m of space opened in 2012, with Spain and Turkey the most active markets for completions. Of this, 9percent were extensions to existing schemes. Major shopping centre openings in 2012 included Spain’s Puerto Venecia – which was an extension to an existing retail park, and the Megamall in Turkey.

2013 is on track to be an equally active year with 1.5 million sq m of shopping centre space already completed. Almost 60percent of this total is in Turkey, while 10percent of all space completed in H1 2013 was also extensions to existing schemes.

Despite Spain being very active in 2012 only 38,000 sq m has been completed so far this year with a further 135,216 sq m expected in H2 2013. It also has a significant pipeline of space under construction (469,000 sqm).

Neville Moss, Head of EMEA Retail Research, CBRE, commented:

“The rapid growth of new shopping centre development in emerging markets is attributed to a growing middle class, the urbanisation of large cities and consumer demand for better quality retail. Retailers are competing to take advantage of these new opportunities.

“There has also been a strong trend towards refurbishments and repositioning of existing assets among landlords that want to upgrade the retail mix in order to make their centre more attractive for retailers, in particular in Italy and Poland.”