The Italian housing plan

The housing plan is a national law which, onceanti-seismic standards)".
implemented by Regions, allows to expand the volumeAccording to the housing plan, the regulation is valid
of existing buildings up to 20%, 30% if a crumblingalso in case of partially residential or non residential
property needs to be destroyed and rebuilt (versionbuildings located in residential districts. The construction
implemented in Lombardy, LR 16 July 2009, No. 13).of new structures will be allowed only for housing
Regional law requires municipalities to report by 15thpurposes, without taking advantage of volume
October 2009 the areas to exclude frombonuses. However, the goals of the Housing Plan have
enforcement.suffered considerable limitations due to local decisions
Lombardy was one of the first regions where the lawrestricting the scope of operations: many areas of
came into force. From 16th October 2009 it is possibleMilan were excluded from the enforcement to avoid
to submit the Statement of Activity (DIA) todamage to historic buildings, such as the historical
municipalities or apply for a building permit (art. 42 andcentre, within the circle of Bastions, and 11 other
art. 38 LR 12/20005) concerning interventions ofdistricts (Villaggio dei Giornalisti, Cimiano, Porpora,
redevelopment and construction of residential buildings.Pisacane, Aspar, Del Sarto, Lincoln, Washington, QT8,
The effects of this legislation are extraordinary andPostelegrafica and Borgo Pirelli). In other municipalities,
temporary (the law allows a period of 18 month tosimilar restrictions were approved as well, in order to
apply, or 24 in case of Public Housing interventions)preserve the most sensitive areas under the urban,
and it is guided by the principles of simplification (morehistorical, monumental, landscape and environmental
flexible procedures for start-up), subsidiaritypoints of view.
(involvement of municipalities in law enforcement), soilThe aim of the Housing Plan is to create new spaces
saving (use of existing volumes without further urbanfor families, to renovate abandoned and degraded
expansion), energy efficiency (both for newareas, to promote energy conservation and to improve
contributions and existing buildings), landscape qualitydistricts of public housing. Our hope is that these goals
(consistency with the identity and the history of thewill be achieved as soon as possible, maybe in the
urban area) and safety of buildings (compliance withincoming months.