The third level urban planning in Naples: Private initiative between criticality and best practices

Abstract

In Italian urban planning, the phase of implementation through details plans has always been that which has shown main contradictions. Such plans have the difficult task of creating a link between the dimension of urban planning and that of architecture. They represent the link between what is planned and what is then built in reality.

This article aims to provide evidence of the contradictions such plans face by looking at the implementation state of the General Variance of the Naples Master Plan (Piano Regolatore Generale) in force since 2004. The article focuses on the management methods for the implementations plans (PUAs), third-level planning, and looks specifically at private initiative  PUAs. The research therefore starts from the current legislative framework in force and from the technical rules of town planning to then proceed with the analysis of the administrative and technical procedures adopted by the municipality of Naples to evaluate private initiative PUAs, both implemented and not implemented, and those awaiting for final approval. It thus provides useful knowledge about the main problems encountered, whether specific or of a general nature, determining delays in the preliminary stages of the procedure or in the subsequent implementation phase.