- Irish-led venture to target €20–40 million ESG-aligned multifamily developments in Poland’s high-growth cities.
- First project, “Project ART” in Łódź, anchors pipeline of over 50 deals.
- Strategic partnership with award-winning Polish developer OPG Property Professionals.
A new Irish-led property platform, BARTEK Real Estate, has officially launched, aiming to unlock value in Poland’s rapidly maturing Private Rental Sector (PRS) through sustainable, community-focused developments in the country’s most dynamic secondary cities. With an agile project-by-project investment model and an experienced leadership team, BARTEK is poised to offer investors attractive, ESG-aligned returns while addressing one of Europe’s most significant housing deficits.
BARTEK Real Estate (“BARTEK” or “BRE”) was co-founded by Conor Gleeson, an Irish private equity and finance specialist, and Michal Stys, a seasoned Polish developer and CEO of OPG Property Professionals. Together, they bring over 30 years of cross-border experience in real estate, finance, and urban regeneration.
A Timely Market Entry: Ireland Meets Poland
Inspired by the transformation of Ireland’s PRS sector over the past two decades, BARTEK aims to mirror that trajectory in Poland, where just 0.1% of housing stock is institutionally owned PRS compared to over 30% in Ireland. Poland is experiencing strong GDP growth, falling interest rates, and shifting tenant behaviour, creating a unique window of opportunity for early-mover investors.
According to PwC’s recent overview of the Polish PRS market, institutional rental stock grew by 32% in the last year alone, and the sector is forecast to quadruple to over 80,000 units by 2028. This growth is driven by a housing deficit of nearly 2 million units, increasing affordability pressures, and a generational shift toward flexible, professionally managed rental living. These dynamics highlight the long-term viability of the sector and reinforce BARTEK’s strategy to capture yield and scale in an emerging, under-supplied market.
“There are very few moments when timing, macro conditions, and strategy align this well,” said Conor Gleeson, Managing Director at BARTEK. “Poland is at an inflection point – with strong rental demand, a housing shortfall of over 1.5 million units, and a nascent PRS market ready for institutionalisation. This is a chance to be early and smart.”
Sustainable, Locally Delivered, Globally Informed
BARTEK’s developments will focus on urban rental communities that appeal to young professionals and families in cities such as Łódź, Wrocław, Katowice, and Trójmiasto. Projects will target IRRs above 20% over a typical five-year holding period and include both forward purchase agreements and joint ventures with local developers to shape product from inception.
A strategic partnership with OPG Property Professionals, one of Poland’s most respected real estate consultancies, underpins BARTEK’s local execution. OPG’s notable past projects include OFF Piotrkowska, one of Poland’s top revitalisation initiatives, and the Art Modern housing project in Łódź.
“Our goal is to create places people want to live—not just units to rent,” said Michal Stys, Managing Director at BARTEK. “Through our partnership with OPG, we bring deep local knowledge and a track record of delivery at scale, ensuring that sustainability, quality, and community are central to each project.”
Project ART Now Live
BARTEK’s debut development, Project ART in Łódź, is currently live and represents the first proof of concept in its growing pipeline. The company has over 50 project opportunities in evaluation across Poland, filtered through a proprietary investment checklist focused on ESG impact, rental demand, scalability, and developer credentials.
The platform is backed by a board of senior Irish legal, real estate, and investment figures including William Gleeson (Founder of OPG), David Dillon (Co-Founder of Dillon Eustace), and Niall Molloy (Founder of Echelon Data Centres), providing strategic oversight and governance as the business scales.
