Lombardy is the first Italian Region to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework specifically dedicated to data centers, a sector that is becoming increasingly strategic for both digital development and the attraction of infrastructure investments.
In the article published by Real Estate 24 – Il Sole 24 Ore, Silvia Gnocco, Partner and Co-Founder of SI – Studio Inzaghi, outlined some of the key practical implications of the new regional legislation, with particular focus on the authorisation and urban planning aspects that are expected to have a tangible impact on future development projects.
Among the key features highlighted by Silvia is the Regional legislator’s decision to assign a central role to the Region in authorisation procedures relating to larger-scale data centers, while also introducing specific territorial coordination mechanisms for projects of supra-municipal significance.
Particular attention was also devoted to the new urban planning classification of data centers, which the law expressly recognises, for the first time, as productive developments.
This approach is expected to have significant implications in terms of development charges and territorial planning, while contributing to a clearer regulatory framework for operators and investors.
As highlighted by Silvia Gnocco in the interview, a further noteworthy aspect concerns the transitional provisions introduced in the final version of the law.
The approved text has effectively avoided the risk of a general suspension of pending procedures, allowing ongoing applications to continue under the existing regulatory framework and ensuring greater continuity for planned investments.
The new Lombardy regulatory framework represents a particularly significant development in a context characterised by rapid sector growth and an increasing demand for regulatory certainty. For this reason, the contribution of operators and professionals who engage with these projects on a daily basis plays a central role in the interpretation and practical application of the new rules.
Click here for the full article.