WARSAW-Hines has broken ground on the Metropolitan, a 390,000-sf Foster-designed mixed-use complex on Pilsudski Square in the Polish capital, Warsaw.

LYON-Distribution property specialist ProLogis has pre-let a 369,202-sf distribution complex at ProLogis Park, Isle d'Abeau to the European logistics group TDG. The deal underlines the emergence of Lyon as one of Europe's distribution hotspots.

LONDON-Pillar Property has restructured the loan financing on three of its retail parks in Edinburgh, Preston and Chester in a $545 million conduit deal with German mortgage bank HVB.

LONDON-TK Maxx, the UK arm of the TJX Companies Inc, has agreed a pre-letting on a 90,000-sf distribution centre at Arlington's Hatfield Business Park in Hertfordshire.

BERLIN-The office market in Germany's capital city is well positioned to survive the threat of a global economic downturn according to a new report from FPDSavills.

BIRMINGHAM-The Confederation of British Industry Conference will today hear a call from Roger Bootle--ex-chief economist at HSBC--to take property issues more seriously.

LONDON-Planning Minister Lord Falconer has ordered local authorities to give higher property to commercial planning applications, but at the same time he has relaxed the statutory deadline for considering applications.

LONDON-The Blackstone Group has tidied up its holdings at the 266,786-sf Vintners' Place in the City of London, buying out Irish Life Assurance Company's long leasehold interest.