Milan is preparing to unblock the construction sector after months of regulatory and judicial uncertainty thanks to the “Save Milan” law. The amendment, presented in July by representatives of Fratelli d’Italia, Forza Italia, Lega and Noi Moderati, was approved in recent days by the Chamber’s Environment Commission, after a troubled process and several postponements.
The measure aims to resolve the interpretative differences that had paralyzed further 150 construction projectsincluding towers and skyscrapers.
The amendment, which also received the support of the Democratic Party, will now pass to the Chamber of Deputies for consideration by the end of the week and will then reach the Senate, where the final green light is awaited.
With this law, Milan aims to resume its path of urban development and resolve economic and legal issues linked to the blocking of construction sites.
But what does this measure involve and what are its implications?
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What does the “Save Milan” law provide?
The “Save Milan” law was conceived to overcome the regulatory ambiguities that had blocked over 150 building projects in Milan, especially urban regeneration interventions that included large works such as skyscrapers and towers.
One of the main issues concerned the possibility of authorisation buildings higher than 25 meters in height using a simple SCIA (Certified Report of Start of Activity), without going through the more complex procedure linked to an implementation plan.
This simplification had generated conflicting interpretations between the Municipality and the Prosecutor’s Office, leading to a general blockade of construction sites and legal difficulties for municipal technicians.
The law now clarifies that for buildings built on already urbanized lots it is not necessary to prepare detailed plans or subdivision agreements, even if the new buildings exceed the pre-existing ones in height. However, such interventions must respect precise conditions: they must not conflict with a concrete and current public interest, which will be assessed by the competent administration, and they must respect the technical construction regulations and local urban planning instruments.
This measure aims to simplify and speed up bureaucratic procedures, making the implementation of new building projects less expensive and encouraging investments in urban regeneration.
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The critical issues and doubts about the standard
Despite the enthusiasm for the unblocking of the construction sites and the expected economic benefits, the “Save Milan” has raised some doubts among the experts and the parties involved. One of the main criticisms concerns the risk of creating regulatory precedents that could negatively influence the rest of the country.
The rule, in fact, simplifies the procedures for building interventions in urbanized contexts, but at the same time it could complicate renovations that conform to the existing ones, especially in less densely populated areas.
Pierluigi Mantiniprofessor of urban planning law at the Polytechnic of Milan, expressed doubts about the constitutionality of the law, underlining that defining what constitutes a “built and urbanized area” could prove problematic.
Furthermore, it highlighted how the return to stricter rules on land allocations and urban planning parameters for compliant renovations could represent a step backwards compared to the simplifications introduced in the past.
On the judicial front, the questions related to the investigations of the Prosecutor’s Office remain open, which contested the failure to collect millions of euros for some construction sites. This leaves room for possible legal repercussions, which could generate further uncertainties for municipal technicians and sector operators.
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The implications for Milan and the construction sector
The approval of the “Save Milan” will have immediate and significant effects for the city. The law allows the unlocking of over 150 previously frozen projects, many of which are already at an advanced stage or strategic for the urban regeneration of degraded or obsolete areas. Among the works involved, towers and skyscrapers stand out which, once completed, will transform the urban landscape of Milan, strengthening its role as a modern and attractive city.
The blockade of construction sites had generated serious economic effects: according to mayor Beppe Sala, the lost revenue deriving from urbanization costs led to a loss of 70%, equal to approximately 130 million euros compared to the previous year. Added to this were the inconveniences for developers and buyers, some of whom had to introduce compensation clauses into their contracts in the event of a negative outcome of the investigations.
The “Save Milan”, therefore, not only offers an immediate solution for projects already blocked, but also provides greater regulatory clarity for future building interventions. However, it remains crucial to monitor the effects of the law, especially to ensure that the simplifications introduced do not compromise urban liveability or the balance between construction and land protection.
