What started as a peripheral retail format on the outskirts of Polish cities in the late 1990s has evolved into one of the most resilient and fastest-growing segments of the country’s retail property market, an Avison Young report shows.
By 2019, Poland already had 1.5 million sqm of retail parks larger than 5,000 sqm of gross leasable area (GLA). The turning point came in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the format’s structural advantages.
Open-air layouts, easy access and a focus on essential retail meant that retail parks were largely immune to lockdowns and operational restrictions, unlike enclosed shopping centres. At the same time, consumers shifted decisively toward local, convenience-based shopping.
Between 2020 and 2024, developers delivered another 1.5 million sqm of retail park space, effectively doubling the market in just five years. Momentum continued into 2025, with 120,000 sqm completed in the first half of the year and a further 340,000 sqm scheduled for delivery by year-end.
Development boom for retail parks
Today, Poland counts more than 290 retail parks larger than 5,000 sqm of GLA, together offering approximately 3.2 million sqm of space. This represents 21% of the country’s modern retail stock, double the share recorded in 2010.
The bulk of recent development has focused on mid-sized schemes, as over 70% of retail parks delivered since 2020 fall within the 5,000–10,000 sqm GLA range, and 60% of new projects have been built in towns with fewer than 50,000 residents.
In parallel, Poland’s retail ecosystem is supported by more than 400 smaller convenience retail parks, typically between 2,000 and 5,000 sqm of GLA. Together, these assets contribute an additional 1.3 million sqm of retail space nationwide.
Bigger parks, broader ambitions
Currently, 52 retail parks with more than 5,000 sqm of GLA are either under construction or undergoing expansion, with 10 projects expected to exceed 15,000 sqm. The largest scheme underway is Osada Żyrardów, which will deliver 33,000 sqm of retail space upon completion.
Developments of this scale illustrate a broader shift: large retail parks are increasingly positioned as functional alternatives to regional shopping centres, combining accessibility with a wider tenant mix.
Ownership: concentrated at the top, fragmented below
The 10 largest investors control approximately 45% of Poland’s modern retail park supply (assets over 5,000 sqm GLA). Pradera leads the market with a 9% share, based on four large retail parks.
Saller follows with 8%, BIG Poland holds 6%, and Trei Real Estate accounts for 5%. Beyond the top tier, ownership is highly fragmented, with most investors holding individual market shares of 3% or less.
