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Mr. Martello, what can you tell us about the recently approved regulations made by the Puglia Region, concerning “Piano Casa”?

On the 24^th July 2009, the Puglia region, approved “Piano Casa”. The 19/2009 law is designed to revive the building trade; and the Regional Council has provided this realistic opportunity. The law is composed of 9 articles and has a limited effective duration of 24 months with the objective of accelerating articles 3 & 4 and their possible intervention.

During the approval stage, many amendments were made with regards the conservation areas, parking zones, and the buildings that are required to be pulled down for public safety. It is possible to extend a property that falls within an area of building land but subject to any restrictions or in keeping with the realms of town and country planification “A” and “B” of the PUTT/P, and also subject to the adoption by the Cisternino Council within the next 120 consecutive days. As for parking, in the case where space is limited, the constructor must give the corresponding figures to the council to realise any new project with details of the number of vehicles the extension must accommodate; and the support services for public accessibility.

Buildings which are to be demolished for reasons of security may be extended to 35%.

What are the accepted interventions?

“In accordance with Article 3, they can extend buildings which are currently in use for habitable purposes, for one or two families, up to 20% of the volume outside this area, as long as the property does not already exceed 1000 cubic square metres (in Cisternino there are few that will actually reach that limit), to a maximum of 200 cubic square metres, respecting the boundary limitations.

In accordance with article 4, demolition with successive reconstruction complies with a volumetric bonus of 35%, but excluding areas which have a prestigious setting or in cultural or historical areas.

75% of the volume must be destined for residential space.

Buildings for manufacture which have been constructed by the coast, near a riverbed or swamp; or in a territory that is at risk of an earthquake, can build with a 35% extension as long as it is in an area better adapted and not with the above. Of course properties in the historic centre or buildings which are in an earthquake risk or hydrogeological zones are outside this acceptable territory.

Extensions on constructions or reconstructions must already meet the legal requirements of the law to be eligible for the specifications under the law (24 July 2009); including those that have had a “Sanatoria” or act of indemnity under the various laws of the “Condono Edilizio” or amnesty for the infringement of local building regulations.

Excludes the interventions for warehouses or hangars, industrial or agricultural, where it's not possible to change the destination of usage.

The Council can pinpoint buildings that are not residential, realised through an act of indemnity, removed because of their confliction with the landscape. Also in this case it is possible to extend by 35% if the new property is built in an area more suitable.

The bonus of 45% for interventions that can be integrated into the existing plans or in favour of social residential buildings.

Is there a possibility that the bureaucracy will be simplified for any realisation of interventions?

“All the interventions can be realised with a DIA (Denuncia di Inizio Attività) under the article 22 of D:P:R: 380/2001 Testo Unico per l'Edilizia – accompagnied by a Perizia Giurata and photographic documentation from the commissioned Technician, who can attest to the existence of the property.”

What are your personal thoughts?

“Without doubt this is an opportunity for the community to develop, but we will see if the economic resources exist and that private individuals will be able to take advantage of the “Piano Casa” regulations. The global economic crisis is seriously affecting people and perhaps they will not want to invest in bricks and mortar whilst their employment is under threat. Fundamentally though, the approval of this regulation by the Council will take place in 120 days, without which no interventions will be possible, in fact, the majority of territorial areas fall within the the territory grade “B” of the PUUT/P which is the category for which most of the Valle d'Itria falls under and has restrictions due to the prestigious landscape, which as per article 6, if is as per the above, then it will not be impossible to extend. Let's hope for the best.”