The European landscape convention and urban planning: a comparison between Italy and the UK

The European Landscape Convention is the pan-national legal reference on the subject of land and landscape. It introduces, in the contracting states, new models for the management and development of integrated land use and development of the landscape. At the heart of the planning system is a presumption in favour of sustainable development, which should be seen as a golden thread running through both plan making and decision taking. Local planning authorities should plan positively for new development, and approve all individual proposals wherever possible. Sustainable development guarantees a valid approach to spatial planning, the design of quality and precious landscape in order to restructure territories through the development of social and territorial capital. The objective of this work is to compare the policies, procedures and operating methods adopted in Italy and in the UK, to govern the landscape in the process of planning, based on the indications of the European Landscape Convention. The method is based on the identification of resources; strategic evaluation; protective measures; the development of the territorial capital.