The Polish Transportation Ministry reports that over 636 kms of highways will be built and 2,200kms of express roads will be built or modernized.

Furthermore over 1,566kms of the railway system and the eight international airports will be upgraded. In total it is planned that approximately Euro37bn will be spent on improving public infrastructure before 2012.

Tomasz Lipiec, Minister of Sport also reports that Euro2bn will be invested in new stadia in Gdansk, Warsaw and Wroclaw and modernising existing ones in Chorzow, Krakow and Poznan. Lipiec believes that Euro 2012 will add a further 0.5-1% to the Polish economy.

Euro 2012 and its spin off planned infrastructural improvements will also have a positive impact on property prices. A recent report compiled in the UK by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found that the Polish city of Krakow was Europe's number one hot spot with house price growths of up to 58%. Polish banks offering up to 100% mortgages and the government are encouraging growth in the market in order to get Polish workers out of old style now defunct Communist era buildings and into modern accommodation.

Christies Estates managing director Richard O'Sullivan believes the strong local demand is what makes the Polish market attractive. "Poland reminds us of the market conditions which prevailed in Ireland in the early to mid '90s? and is a country showing all the signs of a strong emerging and most importantly sustainable economy. It is a market that offers investors an opportunity to extract maximum value from well-chosen investment options and for those who may have missed the boat in Ireland, a second bite of the cherry."

Following on the success of its developments at Villa Concorde and Emilii Plater, last week Christies launched two new residential developments in Warsaw - La Lumiere (phase c) and Melody Park - which should appeal to Irish investors, especially la Lumiere as it's not launching in Poland until September.

La Lumiere, in West Bank Wilanow district, just 7km from the city centre, comprises three four-storey buildings with apartments boasting bigger than average windows, balconies, underground car parking and courtyard gardens.

Part of the largest and most advanced development project in the history of Poland - Wilanow town - La Lumiere is due for completion mid 2009.

The second development, Melody Park, located in Warsaw's most exclusive residential district, Mokotow, comprises four independent buildings connected to each other by a two-storey undergound garage. Prices for for a studio with parking at La Lumiere start from Euro115,000.

Units at Melody Park, including parking start from Euro182,000. Units are sold as a shell, but for an extra payment, buyers can opt for a full fit out from the developer or one of Christies' partners in Warsaw.

For further information contact Christies Estates, 1800 465 465; www. christiesestates. com. Christies run inspection trips to Poland every six weeks.