Strategies and Actions’ Definition for the New Territorial Government Plan of Voghera, Italy: Towards a Healthier City

Abstract

Cities require flexible and participatory planning methodologies to address complex and evolving urban challenges. In Italy, the legislative framework is defined at the regional level according to national laws and jurisprudence. The Lombardy region introduced the Planning Document (PD) in the Territorial Government Plan (PGT) as a strategic tool capable of adapting to changes. Based on a strategic vision, this document guides concrete actions for urban transformation, actively involving stakeholders, including citizens. The PD’s role is to translate the political program into an urban planning design, encompassing both technical and political dimensions. The political aspect is usually emphasized in the strategic component of the document. Following the formation process of the whole city plan, the authors define the key strategies in the PD for a healthier urban future for the city of Voghera. It emerges as a balanced urban development that combines economic growth, environmental preservation, and community well-being. In the paper, the authors synthesize Voghera’s PD as an example of strategic planning that interacts with practical planning actions and guides both public and private decisions about the city’s development toward a healthier city.