The Chamber of Deputies has given the first green light to the so-called “Save Milan” law, a measure that aims to regularize the urban planning irregularities of the Milanese skyscrapers built without the necessary municipal implementation plans.
With the support of the majority and part of the opposition, the text sparked a heated political debate, dividing parliamentary forces and sparking controversy over the impact of the law. On the one hand, we celebrate the unlocking of billions in real estate investments; on the other, the risk of urban planning deregulation is denounced.
What are the real implications of this law and why is it generating so much controversy?
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The norm for Milan’s skyscrapers: a targeted intervention to resolve the impasse
The new legislation was created with the aim of regularizing controversial urban planning situations, such as that of the skyscrapers in Milan, at the center of an investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office which defined them as the result of illegal subdivisions.
The central issue concerns the absence of municipal implementation plans, which, according to the judiciary, would have been necessary to authorize the demolition and reconstruction interventions. The approved law instead establishes that these plans are not mandatory if the interventions take place in areas that have already been built and urbanized.
This approach aims to remedy urban planning irregularities and unblock construction projects blocked by legal disputes, offering a new impetus to the real estate sector. However, the choice not to precisely define the concept of “urbanized areas” leaves open questions about the transparency and balance of this legislative intervention, fueling criticism on the possibility of abuse in the absence of clear rules.
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Real estate investing: the promise of the norm
One of the main objectives of the standard is the unlocking of approx 38 billion euros in real estate investmentsfrozen due to the legal uncertainties linked to demolitions and reconstructions without municipal implementation plans.
This amount represents a fundamental economic lever for the construction sector, which could benefit from a significant revival after years of slowdown. According to the supporters of the law, including the parliamentary majority and some opposition parties, this measure will guarantee greater certainty for businesses and administrations, encouraging new interventions capable of generating economic growth and employment.
However, critics warn that the revival of investments must not come at the expense of urban planning and land protection, underlining the risks of disorderly and unsustainable development if more stringent criteria are not adopted.
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Building simplifications, regional disparities and the impact on the Sismabonus
The new regulation introduces a significant simplification in the construction sector, broadening the concept of building renovation. Since 2013, demolition and reconstruction interventions that modify shapes and volumes can be carried out with a simple SCIA (Certified Report of Start of Activity), avoiding prior permits.
However, this simplification must take into account the profound regional disparities in urban planning legislation. In Lombardy, for example, it is allowed to transfer volumes between lots, while regions such as Lazio maintain more rigid criteria, creating an uneven regulatory landscape that risks generating further uncertainties.
Another critical point concerns the Sismabonus purchases: the law limits access to this tax incentive, equal to approximately 80,000 euros per apartment, only to approved projects by 2023 in municipalities with regularly defined implementation plans.
This restriction penalizes many citizens who had relied on the bonus to purchase safe and modern properties, raising the risk of disputes and widespread social discontent.
