The target area is located in the Milan Northwest suburb which, for its strategic position close to a river, has experienced the spread of textile, chemical and mechanical industry whose development has been supported by a good transport system. Since 1960 the decline of transport networks and the pollution of the river brought to a general decay of the whole area. Public housing grew at the same rate as the area’s urban landscape was transformed. The need for housing led to large working-class estates being built in the suburbs, filling the empty space between the centre and the houses that had grown around the tollgate and the factories. The development of small and very small enterprises brought to provide advanced technologic services which stimulated the raise of the new economy.  

The Urban II Milan Programme aims at:

Through these actions the Urban II Milan Programme regenerates natural and cultural heritage of deprived areas neighbouring the town centre, with the aim of improving job opportunities and services within the suburb of Milan. In this context the improvement of the transport system helps to fight the greenhouse effect and supplies efficient services to facilitate exchange and investments flows. The integrated management activities are aimed at improving social cohesion and citizens’ participation in order to coordinate management procedure at local, national and European level.

The integrated approach led to a participatory process based on periodic meeting between decision makers and the “Stati Generali delle Periferie” (“suburbs’ representative bodies” of inhabitants of the concerned area). During these meetings inhabitants described the general difficult situation of the suburb deprived area and helped to focus the Urban II Milan Programme on the most relevant issues to regenerate the suburb. The integrated participatory approach brought to citizens’ participation in urban governance with the intent of regenerating environment and revitalizing economy.
The “Urban II Milan” Programme wishes to launch the social change through urban renewal and regeneration, meaning that its first steps should focus on infrastructural and environmental interventions.   

A great number of urban regeneration projects are concluded. They concern infrastructural interventions such as the restoration of historic buildings, parks regeneration, construction of a bicycle path, sustainable transport system development. All these interventions brought to a general social and economic improvement of the area. The social inclusion, the fight against exclusion and the cultural growth are pursued through the creation of new local networks. Another important and strategic task accomplished by the Urban II Milan Programme is related to the communication activity.

The final beneficiary of the intervention is the City of Milan but the direct beneficiaries are the citizens of Milan and, in particular, of the target area.

The total amount of the intervention is 27 million euros. The European Union co-finances the Urban II Milan Programme through the European Regional Development Fund for an amount of about 11 million euros. The national public participation is of 16 million euros of which 9 million euros are national funds whereas the rest is not equally divided between the region of Lombardia, the city of Milan and other kinds of co-financing, such as the ones belonging to the private investors. 

Within the framework of the Community Initiative Programmes, the Milan Urban II Programme is in line with the European Union main urban features. The Milan Urban II Programme meets the objectives of the 2000-2006 programming period because it promotes the formulation and implementation of innovative strategies for sustainable economy improvement and social regeneration of a deprived Milan neighbourhood.

Ministry for Infrastructure
Ms. Daniela Versino

23/11/2001

case

Urban Policy > Urban environment > Urban renewal

Brownfield development