Friuli Venezia Giulia approves major urban planning reform

The Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Council has approved Bill 90, a major reform of territorial and urban planning that replaces the General Regional Urban Plan (Purg) after nearly fifty years.

The reform introduces several key changes aimed at urban regeneration and combating land consumption. A “zero balance” principle has been established, requiring that any new land transformation be compensated by an equivalent recovery of existing territory. New construction will only be permitted when needs cannot be met through the redevelopment of existing buildings and spaces.

Traditional zoning based on letters and numbers is being replaced by “physical-functional areas,” categorized into residential, industrial, commercial, and urban regeneration sectors. The law also integrates green and blue systems into planning to improve climate resilience, manage hydrogeological risks, and address seismic safety.

Furthermore, the reform restores a role for Provinces as an intermediate planning level. Provinces will be responsible for analyzing demographic and economic dynamics, implementing flood risk management, and overseeing local ecological networks and sustainable mobility plans.