THE next 12 months look likely to be a reversal of last year for the new property market in the county, according to experts RPC Land and New Homes.

The past year has seen prices for new homes continue to rise and the market remained buoyant through the summer before experiencing a slowing down towards the end of last year.

On the supply side, due to a dwindling stock of good brownfield sites available for building, there has continued to be fierce competition between developers over sites, which in turn means land prices have stayed strong.

RPC Land and New Home managing director Peter Randall said he expected a slightly different situation in 2008, adding: "Last year the market was quite tough for developers but they are still very hungry for land and desperate to purchase good sites and that will continue into 2008 and beyond.

"Last year saw the new homes market start well and then slow down. I expect that to change around in 2008 with perhaps a slow start followed by an upturn later in the year.

"I believe this year we will see more housing associations involved with developments in Kent to meet affordable housing numbers and I think eco-friendly developments will also become more common.

"There is also a growing trend in some part of the county for planners to look for more family housing reversing the trend over the past few years for higher-density developments such as flats.

"I would expect developers to follow suit and look to provide more two, three and four-bedroom properties."

* RPC Land has offices at Dartford, Chatham, Maidstone, Ashford, Tonbridge and Haywards Heath.