Purpose: The Permanent Observatory on Local Public Administrations (OPPAL) survey aims at:

• offering an opportunity to promote the territory by promoting transparency about and disseminating the practices adopted for investment licensing procedures;
• providing valuable support in defining the strategic investment choices of Real Estate operators.
• providing a unique tool at national level, for attracting investment for the enhancement of Real Estate Assets.

The research presents the survey's results of Permanent Observatory on Local Public Administrations (OPPAL), which deals with the efficiency of the permit-issuing procedures applied by the Local Public Administration (LPA) in Italy with a focus on innovative strategies and tools for the enhancement of cities and territories. Nowadays, more than ever, cities are experiencing financial difficulties, with limited funds for public works and many bureaucratic limitations in the allocation of public money.Therefore, different ways must be identified by which Public Administrations could collect additional resources to finance a sustainable cities development and the enhancement of built environment. To overcome the difficulties of the Public Administrations, setting public works, more and more effective long-term Public-Private-People Partnerships (4P) are needed. Today’s revolution lies in the interconnection of new technologies and global networks. Innovative tools as Civic Crowdfunding and Green Bonds could serve as tools to solve this critical situation and support the public authorities in implementing public projects. Civic Crowdfunding and Green Bonds are in their development phase. They are spreading fast and are more often adopted by the local Administrations, thanks to the social and economic benefits.

Scope: The study investigates the characteristics of these interventions, their methods and intended use. These innovative financial tools are not extensively adopted for the development and enhancement of cities. Their promising future is mainly due to the transparency of the decision-making process in implementing projects of public interest, giving citizens the opportunity to participate in the development of territories.

Conclusion: These innovative financial tools can enable Local Public Administration (LPA) to carry out redevelopment and enhancement interventions transparently and fund projects that can contribute to environmental sustainability.