Investigating “Sustainable Neighbourhoods” in the Italian Context: A Diachronic Approach

The chapter investigates the evolution of the “sustainable neighbour-hoods” paradigm in Italy, drawing on a selection of initiatives developed through time also as a consequence of the incremental consolidation of a European and national legislation on the matter. The case studies are analysed through a grid developed in the framework of the Erasmus +project LOTUS and properly adapted to the scope of this contribution. The authors identify two main patterns that have characterised the evolution of energy policies and sustainable urban planning practices in Italy in the last 30 years: (i) the shift from a sectoral approach that addresses the production of energy (“silos approach”) to the integration of different urban strategies and policies that look at changes in the processes of production, distribution and energy-saving in relation to urban planning transformations (“integrated approach”); (ii) the shift from the localisation of specific interventions concentrated within a defined munic-ipality or urban area to the promotion of diffused actions fostering inter-municipal cooperation under a regime of co-ownership and co-management of energy services. The collected evidence constitutes a useful input for spatial governance and plan-ning activities in the Italian context, supporting initiatives and projects that promote energy transitions towards the decarbonisation of cities.