InvestEU: The Municipality of Livorno and CDP for social housing and the school building stock

InvestEU: The Municipality of Livorno and CDP for social housing and the school building stock

Consultancy agreement renewed between the local government and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to support local property regeneration projects under the AdvisoryHub agreement

The scope of the project covers approximately 8,000 square metres of land designated for residential use and 62 school buildings

 

Livorno–Rome, 14 July 2025 – Accelerate programmes for the regeneration of the property stock, both in terms of sustainable social housing supply and school construction, within the broader framework of urban regeneration for the local community. This was the focus of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2023 and renewed in September 2024 between the Municipality of Livorno and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, which defined a new phase in their fruitful cooperation aimed at redeveloping and improving the energy efficiency of the school building stock in the Tuscan city.

Moreover, the cooperation between the municipal government and CDP aims to concretely implement initiatives that can foster and guarantee a significant supply of housing solutions for the population, while also making the school buildings owned by the local authority increasingly modern, accessible and sustainable. A goal that can be achieved thanks to the advisory service provided by CDP through the resources made available by the European Union under the InvestEU Advisory Programme and by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti itself.

For the Municipality of Livorno, this is a commitment that goes beyond urban planning, to generate a tangible social impact by activating synergies with the third sector and promoting inclusive, sustainable solutions for people in difficulty. A second area of support concerns the redevelopment and increased energy efficiency of the school building stock, to assist the municipal administration in developing a comprehensive strategy for the school buildings under in question, defining both potential actions and the timeline for deploying the related investments.

Specifically, in its role as Advisory Partner to the European Commission, CDP will provide consultancy services to the local government for the design of incentive mechanisms for private-sector social housing and innovative models of public management of housing emergencies. These represent the core of Abitare Livorno, the municipality’s housing plan, which forms an integral part of the Municipal Operational Plan currently undergoing final approval.

The renewal of the collaboration between the two institutions, which will last approximately one year, will enable the practical implementation of the operational rules developed under the new plan defined by the Municipality of Livorno, setting out a comprehensive schedule of projects involving the school building stock and exploring the feasibility of high-impact social policies.

The scope of the project specifically includes: (i) nearly 8,000 m² of potential space for privately managed social housing (around 100 rent-capped units expected),1 across nine designated redevelopment areas; (ii) 62 school buildings owned by the municipality (serving a population of nearly 13,000 pupils) for a total investment of seven million euro2; and (iii) 4.3 GWh/year of electricity and heat savings in the city’s schools.

“We have invested in housing and schools to regenerate our city. The local housing plan (Abitare Livorno) is an integral part of the new urban planning instruments and of the key strategic public-led projects aimed at tackling the various forms of housing hardship. Improving the energy efficiency of our schools is a continuous investment that will help us to establish the first publicly led renewable energy community, installing photovoltaic systems on school rooftops. The renewed collaboration with CDP along these socially impactful lines of work supports our commitment to strengthening Livorno’s identity as an accessible, inclusive city”, said Silvia Viviani, Councillor for Urban Planning, commenting on the renewed agreement.
“The advisory partnership with the Municipality of Livorno, now in its third year, once again demonstrates the importance of CDP’s role as an institutional partner of reference for public authorities and governments promoting development, implementation and urban regeneration programmes with visible and meaningful impacts for local residents. Furthermore, operating under the InvestEU Advisory Programme enables us to provide expertise and know-how that offer real and tangible added value, including in terms of sustainable development”, noted Maria Elene Perretti, Head of Advisory at CDP.

 

1 These projects will be accompanied by incentive mechanisms allowing for up to 100% exemption from permit fees.

2 Three million euros of this amount may be financed through the national “conto termico” subsidy.