SPEEDWELL secures €21.5 million financing from Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania for the residential component of QUEENS District

The transaction is among the first publicly announced residential development financings signed after the new legal framework on the protection of buyers’ advance payments became operational in Romania

SPEEDWELL, a trusted premium real estate developer active in Romania and Poland with Belgian roots, announces the signing of a €21.5 million financing agreement with Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania for the residential component of QUEENS District, the company’s mixed-use development located in Bucharest’s Aviației area.

The financing will support the development of the residential component of QUEENS District, which will include 237 premium apartments designed for both living and long-term investment. The project brings together residential, office, retail and publicly accessible amenities in an integrated urban ecosystem, created around connectivity, sustainability, comfort and everyday usability.

The transaction comes at an important moment for the Romanian residential market, shortly after the new regulations regarding the protection of buyers’ advance payments became operational. The new framework introduces a more structured approach to residential pre-sales, with stricter requirements regarding reservations, advance payments, cadastral procedures, and the use of funds received from future buyers.

More than a financing agreement, the transaction represents a vote of confidence in QUEENS District, in SPEEDWELL’s development model and in the company’s ability to deliver complex urban projects in a more regulated and disciplined market environment.

“QUEENS District is a project designed with the type of discipline the market needs more than ever: a strong location, a clear mixed-use concept, solid technical standards, sustainable solutions and a development structure built around transparency and long-term value. The new legal framework reinforces principles that have always been part of the way SPEEDWELL develops: financial discipline, respect for clients, responsible management of resources and a clear commitment to delivery. From this perspective, this financing says as much about the project as it does about the developer behind it.” said Yannick van de Parre, Country Manager Romania at SPEEDWELL.

The agreement also reflects the role of institutional financing in a residential market where both developers and banks are recalibrating their financing structures and development models.

As advance payments from buyers are now subject to clearer restrictions and dedicated use, bank financing becomes an even more relevant indicator of project quality, developer credibility, and delivery capacity.

Commenting on the transaction, Denisa Guberna, Head of Corporate at Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania, said: „The financing granted to SPEEDWELL reflects Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania’s firm commitment to supporting the transition to a sustainable urban environment and to financing top-tier real estate developers who incorporate rigorous energy efficiency criteria and Excellent BREEAM standards into their projects. This strategic partnership demonstrates our bank’s ability to mobilize capital for complex developments that bring real, long-term value to the local community.”

The mixed-use nature of QUEENS District further strengthens the investment profile of the residential component.

Alongside the residential buildings, the project will include approximately 23,000 sqm of modern office space and around 2,500 sqm of retail and services, creating a balanced urban destination where living, working and everyday convenience support each other naturally. The office component has already attracted STRABAG as General Contractor and first anchor tenant, with the company set to relocate its Bucharest headquarters to QUEENS District under a long-term lease agreement.

“QUEENS District was designed as a project that works in real life, not only on paper. For residents, this means living in a premium apartment, in a connected area, with services, offices, green spaces and urban energy at their doorstep. For investors, it means a product supported by location, quality, sustainability, and a mixed-use ecosystem capable of preserving and increasing value over time. The financing signed with Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania adds another layer of confidence to this promise.” added Madalina Arsene, Sales Director at SPEEDWELL

Located on Șoseaua Pipera, in one of Bucharest’s most dynamic business and residential areas, QUEENS District benefits from strong multimodal accessibility, with Aurel Vlaicu and Pipera metro stations within walking distance, direct access to public transport and fast connections to the city center, DN1 and A3. The location places future residents close to major office hubs, Promenada Mall, medical services, educational facilities and the wider northern area of Bucharest, supporting both end-user demand and investment potential.

QUEENS District is designed as a future-proof residential project, with energy-efficient systems that support both comfort and lower operating costs.

High-performance insulation, LED lighting, smart thermostats and individual electric heat pumps for each apartment ensure efficient consumption, while supporting a more sustainable, carbon-neutral approach to everyday living.

The residential component of QUEENS District includes apartments with 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms, designed for young professionals, entrepreneurs, families and investors looking for a premium address in a mature urban area. The apartments will feature functional layouts, generous storage spaces, large windows, customizable premium finishes and underfloor heating supporting both comfort and energy efficiency.

The first two residential buildings will include 147 apartments out of the total 237 units planned within the project. The development is conceived around landscaped green areas, pedestrian walkways, an inner courtyard, curated retail and services, creating a complete living environment where daily needs are integrated within walking distance.

QUEENS District is developed by SPEEDWELL as a future-ready urban destination. scheduled for delivery in Q1 2028.

About Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania

Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania is part of the Italian group Intesa Sanpaolo, one of Europe’s largest financial groups. In Romania, the bank offers a full range of services for individuals, SMEs, and corporations, based on long-term relationships and high-quality service, and has 59 branches nationwide. In 2025, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania merged with First Bank, strengthening its position in the local market. The bank is part of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group’s International Banks Division (IBD), which serves 7.4 million customers through 883 branches in 12 countries.

About the Intesa Sanpaolo Group

Intesa Sanpaolo, with €430 billion in loans and more than €1.4 trillion in customer financial assets at the end of March 2026, is the largest banking group in Italy, with a significant international presence.
It is a European leader in wealth management, and operates an integrated Wealth Management, Protection and Advisory platform, built on fully owned product factories and distribution networks working under full strategic control.With a world-class position in social impact, Intesa Sanpaolo is also committed to decarbonization and to supporting clients in the sustainable transition.

The Bank’s network of museums, the Gallerie d’Italia, hosts its owned artistic heritage and cultural projects of recognized value.

About SPEEDWELL

SPEEDWELL Development is a trusted premium real estate developer active in Romania and Poland with Belgian roots, building residential, mixed-use, office, commercial, and industrial destinations on a foundation of structural discipline and real sustainability. With more than ten years of experience in Romania, the company has developed projects across Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Râmnicu Vâlcea, and Brașov, totaling approximately 160,000 sqm of office and retail space, over 5,500 apartments, and 23,000 sqm of industrial space, with a total development value of around €2 billion.

Sustainability has been embedded in SPEEDWELL’s development model since its early projects in Romania. The company has been among the early adopters of nZEB residential standards and has delivered projects targeting internationally recognized certifications such as BREEAM, WELL and Green Homes.

For the upcoming period, SPEEDWELL continues the development of the mixed-use QUEENS District, scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2028, while also preparing the CityZen project, currently in the permitting phase. Construction is progressing at GLENWOOD ESTATE, the premium villa community in Corbeanca, where the first 15 homes have been completed in March 2026, as well as at THE MEADOWS, the exclusive lakeside development on the shores of Lake Grivița, the new C8 building at THE IVY, and the third and final building of the TRIAMA residential complex, which will be delivered to clients in the third quarter of 2026. In Bucharest, the company has already completed the first two phases of TRIAMA Residence, the first three buildings of THE IVY residential project, the first phase of THE MEADOWS, and MIRO, a Class A office building. In the western part of the country, in Timișoara, SPEEDWELL is developing PALTIM, a mixed-use urban regeneration project located near the Bega River, and is preparing to commence construction works on a new development on the site of the former 1 IUNIE S.A. textile factory.

In the industrial and logistics segment, the company has completed SPACEPLUS West and has started construction works on SPACEPLUS East. In recent years, SPEEDWELL delivered RECORD PARK in Cluj-Napoca and is currently expanding into Brașov, another important regional city in Romania.

Since June 2024, SPEEDWELL has expanded into Poland, strengthening its regional footprint in Central and Eastern Europe. In Warsaw, the company is developing TRIBERA Warszawa Mokotów, its first purpose-built student housing project in Poland, comprising 675 beds across 565 rooms, designed to meet modern ESG and operational performance standards. In Gdańsk, SPEEDWELL is advancing a new residential development that reflects its long-term, sustainability-focused approach to urban living. Through its Polish expansion, the company reinforces its cross-market expertise, disciplined growth model, and commitment to building destinations intentionally designed for enduring communities and built to perform over time.

For more information:

Visit: www.speedwell.be