The “Piano Casa”: Comparative Analysis and Evolution of an Italian Response Tool to the 2008 Economic Crisis

Abstract

To encourage the recovery of the construction sector after the 2008 economic crisis, the Italian government has introduced different tools, among which stands out the “Piano casa” (literally translatable as House Plan).

The “Piano Casa” is a regulatory tool to incentivise the redevelopment of buildings applicable to different types of buildings and use classifications. It provides volumetric bonuses and discounts on charges for the extension or demolition and reconstruction of buildings. The Plan was implemented starting from a State-Regions agreement in 2009 in which the criteria and minimum bonuses indexes were defined. Subsequently, each region had to issue a specific law that could be calibrated according to the peculiarities of the territory. 

The paper introduces the working principles of the tool and compares the laws of five chosen regions of north-central Italy (Emilia-Romagna et al.), defining how the State-Regions agreement has been declined in each case study. It also followed the evolution of the selected regional laws over time, highlighting the changes in the objectives and those relating to the bonuses granted. The five regions have been chosen because representatives of the different ways of application and outcomes.  

One of the most important issues that were addressed during the study was the acceptance of the tool by the actors. In general, the Plan was immediately opposed by planners, municipalities and sometimes even by the same regions that had to issue the laws. In case the economic success achieved was considered minimal by the regional government, the Plan was abandoned in a short time. When the “Piano Casa” was judged positively, the regional government converted it from an emergency tool to a structural one. Moreover, some local authorities feared the risk of reducing their control on urban development, giving too much freedom to the market.