REGENERATING TO INCLUDE: GSE PROMOTES BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT AS A DRIVER OF SOCIAL GROWTH AND TERRITORIAL REVITALIZATION

The redevelopment of former industrial sites as a structural alternative to greenfield land consumption and as a tool for urban, environmental, and social development has become a central topic in political and institutional debate. This was the focus of today’s conference held in Rome at the Chamber of Commerce, entitled “Regenerating to Include: Brownfield as a Driver of Urban, Environmental and Social Development”, promoted by GSE Italia.

Strongly convinced of the strategic role of urban regeneration in supporting local economic development, GSE Italia, a general contractor active in the industrial construction sector, brought together representatives from Parliament, regional governments, local administrations, and the business community to foster discussion on the subject. During the event, it emerged that brownfield development not only addresses urban land consumption and, consequently, environmental concerns, but has become an essential choice for improving quality of life, economic attractiveness, and social cohesion within communities, while also helping to recover and revitalize degraded areas. One year after the discussion launched at the Triennale Milano, which highlighted both the challenges and opportunities associated with brownfield redevelopment and called on institutions to simplify administrative procedures for projects on regenerated land, the debate now appears more mature and increasingly focused on identifying structural and replicable solutions.

“Today we are seeing the results of the work carried out alongside institutions through Assoimmobiliare, advocating for the needs of a sector, logistics, that accounts for 10% of Italy’s GDP and employs 1.6 million people,” said Antonio Guarascio, Managing Director of Confluence – GSE. “To turn the principles of urban regeneration into systematic and coordinated policies, facilitating the replication of successful redevelopment models, we are working on economic incentives, including the recognition of remediation costs incurred by developers, effectively making construction on brownfield and greenfield sites equally viable. However, simplification remains crucial, as does the harmonisation of regulations at national level, overcoming the differences currently existing among regions.”

One of the key issues highlighted during the discussion concerned the regulatory framework and the role of institutions in encouraging the regeneration of abandoned industrial sites. The dialogue among Parliament, regional governments and local authorities underscored the need for stronger multi-level coordination and more streamlined processes capable of attracting sustainable investment while safeguarding the public interest.

“Italy needs a comprehensive urban regeneration strategy supported by clear and harmonised legislation,” stated Hon. Erica Mazzetti, Member of the VIII Environment Committee and National Head of the Public Works Department of Forza Italia. “Such an approach would bring benefits to citizens, the environment and the economy, for current generations and especially future ones. I am promoting this objective through new regulatory instruments, not new laws, such as the new Consolidated Construction Code, the first framework to integrate both construction and urban planning issues, because what is needed is a 360-degree approach based on rationalisation and effective public-private collaboration, restoring the principle of trust.”

Particular attention was devoted to the perspective of local communities. In complex urban contexts such as Rome, brownfield regeneration was identified as a potential response to urban decay and marginalisation, capable of combining economic development, environmental sustainability and social inclusion.

“Regional Law 12/2025 marks a turning point in the governance of urban regeneration in Lazio. We chose to include buildings that had previously been regularised not to reward unlawful construction, but to restore safety, quality and dignity to degraded parts of our cities. The law simplifies procedures, reduces approval times, strengthens the role of municipalities and introduces concrete tools such as relocation measures, development incentives and integrated programmes. The Region is therefore taking on a clear role in guiding and guaranteeing a model that transforms urban regeneration into a public policy serving the common good,” observed Micol Grasselli, Regional Councillor of the Lazio Region, highlighting the importance of municipalities and local authorities in managing the impact of regeneration projects.

A replicable model: The Tor Cervara case and the former Romanazzi Workshops
The discussion was enriched by the presentation of the regeneration project involving the former Romanazzi Workshops in Tor Cervara, Rome, as a concrete example of how brownfield redevelopment can transform a severely degraded area, often featured in local news reports, into an opportunity for growth and development.
The project involves the redevelopment of a former industrial area covering more than 32,000 square metres, already subject to demolition and remediation activities, through the construction of a modern and sustainable logistics platform commissioned by Prologis and designed with a lower building volume than the previous facility.
The project was presented as an example of how logistics can play an active role in urban regeneration processes, not only as productive infrastructure but also as a catalyst for regional economic growth, job creation and the restoration of value for local communities.

“Tor Cervara is a major regeneration project involving a strategically important logistics area within the urban fabric of Rome, which we are developing together with Prologis and which will result in the creation of a state-of-the-art logistics hub from both an environmental and operational perspective, with significant social value,” said Giulio Della Torre, Head of Logistics at GSE Italia. “Through the redevelopment of the former Romanazzi Workshops, once a central part of Rome’s economic life and later abandoned to social degradation and criminal activity, we are now giving new momentum to the area by improving mobility, connectivity and hydrogeological safety.”

In the concluding session, discussion focused on how this model could be replicated nationwide. Key topics included project timelines and costs, the economic and social benefits for local communities, and the conditions required for urban regeneration to become a structural pillar of development policies.

Massimiliano Umberti, President of Rome’s IV Municipality, also took part in the discussion and shared his perspective on a project he considers fundamental for the revitalisation of the area: “I would like to thank GSE Italia for inviting me to participate as an institutional speaker in this round table. It was a valuable opportunity for dialogue between institutions and businesses, essential for building strategies capable of restoring value to local communities and transforming abandoned areas into new development opportunities. A clear example is the redevelopment of the former Romanazzi Workshops in Tor Cervara, where work is underway to create a new modern and sustainable logistics hub. It was a fruitful discussion bringing together diverse expertise around a common goal: regenerating without consuming new land, creating development, jobs and urban quality. I firmly believe that through a systemic approach and genuine public-private cooperation we can generate long-lasting urban regeneration benefits for both businesses and communities.”

The discussion highlighted a shared vision: brownfield redevelopment can represent an environmentally responsible alternative to land consumption, an economic opportunity to attract quality investments, and a powerful tool for social inclusion capable of reconnecting cities and communities.