Rossini: Brescia needs more housing and innovation to attract younger residents

Brescia can grow as a European city only if it becomes a place where people can find opportunity, Roberto Rossini says. That means more than jobs with salaries that support a decent standard of living. Families also need genuinely affordable rents, while young people need a reason to put down roots within the city.

The president of Brescia’s City Council is confident about the forthcoming Territorial Government Plan, or PGT, but says housing remains an urgent priority. He argues that the City Council continues to serve as the main forum for administrative debate, including discussions on urban planning, public transport, housing, security, waste collection and the removal of Greenboxes. The PGT will soon come before the council.

“

Now we need affordable rents

Rossini says the plan will build on the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan and the Air and Climate Plan as Brescia enters a phase of urban regeneration. In his view, redesigning the city means changing not only physical spaces but also the time available to citizens and the way people relate to one another.

“

The City Council remains the place for administrative debate

Rising property values and rents make it harder for young people to move into the city. Rossini points to the millions of euros the Castelletti administration has allocated to housing and says the city’s population is growing, suggesting Brescia remains attractive to young people. He also highlights its 136 nationalities and its efforts to respond to ecological, digital and demographic change.

The city recorded 18,000 university students in 2025. The challenge, Rossini says, is ensuring that students can find work after graduation and stay. He sees the urban innovation district, Bind, as a source of opportunity that could help graduates remain in Brescia as the city approaches what he calls a fourth industrial revolution.

“

A European city is open