Ukraine is expected to see its largest increase in new retail space in more than a decade, as developers focus on regional cities and smaller, more flexible formats adapted to wartime conditions.More than 400,000 square meters of new retail space is expected to open in 2026 in regional cities outside Kyiv, according to Expandia. That would represent a 13.5% increase from the previous year and the fastest pace of growth since 2014.Development activity is increasingly concentrated in compact retail parks and district shopping centers of up to 20,000 square meters. These formats are gaining popularity because they require lower investment, can be built more quickly and offer greater flexibility amid military and security risks.Large regional shopping centers remain more limited, though more than 150,000 square meters of new facilities are planned for 2026 across regional centers, as well as in Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, Kyiv, and Lviv regions.Western Ukraine remains the main focus for developers, including regional capitals, smaller cities and suburban areas.Major projects expected to enter the market include Bucha Gallery in Bucha, with 66,000 square meters; Temp and Proskuriv Plaza in Khmelnytskyi, with 36,400 and 35,500 square meters respectively; Skelya in Stryi, with 21,500 square meters; and Nestoria Plaza in Uzhhorod, with 20,100 square meters.Demand is being driven primarily by Ukrainian retailers and international chains, including Poland’s LPP Group, which owns the Sinsay brand, and Turkey’s LC Waikiki, which plans to expand actively in Ukraine in 2026.Tenants are increasingly prioritizing retail properties with autonomous energy supply, shelters, and convenient access by car — features that have become essential for operating in Ukraine’s wartime environment.The expected wave of openings reflects growing confidence in regional retail markets and the continued adaptation of Ukraine’s commercial real estate sector despite ongoing security and infrastructure challenges.https://ubn.news/ukraines-retail-market-heads-for-biggest-expansion-in-12-years/ (ICE KIEV)

Fonte notizia: Ukrainian Business News www.ubn.news