The Lombardy region hosts one of Europe’s most important logistics and industrial systems, with major intermodal terminals, freight rail links and distribution centers that connect the Rhine–Alpine corridor with Mediterranean markets. The logistics network around the Milan functional area faces capacity constraints, road congestion and the need to modernise infrastructure in line with climate and environmental goals. A recent regional law on logistics settlements of supra-municipal relevance provides a framework to reconcile infrastructure development with land use limits and environmental protection.
Key challenges
Congestion and environmental impacts around logistics hubs
High freight volumes generate traffic, emissions and local air quality issues in peri-urban municipalities hosting terminals and warehouses.
Need to upgrade existing logistics infrastructure without increasing land take
Regional policy requires optimising and redeveloping current sites rather than expanding into new areas.
Complex, multi‑level governance
Decisions on logistics, energy and industrial development involve regional, metropolitan and local authorities, as well as private operators, making coordination challenging.
Limited integration of energy transition and industrial decarbonisation in logistics planning
Many logistics and industrial sites still have untapped potential for photovoltaics, energy communities and circular solutions.
What the TSLL will address through ALTHEA
Integrated peri-urban logistics planning and governance
The Milan TSLL will create a TSLL Quality Partnership and use an open data sharing ecosystem (E015) to support coordinated planning of logistics infrastructure across municipalities. It will pilot an Industrial Logistics Climate Neutral Transition Tool that combines satellite imagery with freight data to analyse logistics districts and inform zoning, access management and investment priorities.
Green industrial transition and circular solutions
The TSLL will explore green chemistry, nature-based solutions and industrial symbiosis models to reduce environmental impacts of industrial clusters in peri-urban Lombardy. A Green Solutions Tool will help identify and prioritise site specific interventions that combine circular economy, biodiversity and climate benefits.
Energy transition in logistics areas
The TSLL will assess photovoltaic potential on logistics and industrial sites and design optimal self-consumption and energy community configurations. It will test decision support tools for PV deployment, onsite renewable generation and new energy sharing schemes tailored to energy intensive peri-urban locations.
Cross-sector decision making and stakeholder engagement
Through a Decision Theatre, the TSLL will bring together public authorities, operators, businesses and communities around shared data visualisations to codevelop Local Green Deals and cross-sector projects. This will help align logistics, land use, energy and industrial policies with Climate City Contracts and regional climate targets.
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