Legislative Innovations in Times of Crisis. The Proposal for a New Italian Law on Territorial Governance and the Experimentation in the Marche Region

Abstract

This paper examines recent legislative innovations in Italian territorial governance, focusing on the proposal for a new national law promoted by the National Institute of Urban Planning (INU) and its first practical implementation through Regional Law No. 19/2023 in the Marche Region. By reconstructing the historical evolution of Italian planning legislation and analysing contemporary scientific and regulatory debates, the study explores the transition from traditional urban planning towards more flexible governance models centred on urban regeneration, reduction of soil consumption, regulatory simplification and multilevel coordination. The paper evaluates how the Marche legislation translates the principles of the INU proposal into practice, highlighting new planning instruments, collaborative governance mechanisms and approaches to sustainable territorial development. The findings position the Marche Region as an important testing ground for a new generation of territorial governance in Italy and contribute to the broader debate on the future of urban planning reform.