Relaxing the rules which make property developers pay contributions to the area they are building in is key to getting Kent’s house building industry back on track.

That was the message of a property forum on what can be done to bring down the cost of development as the construction of homes in the county remains at a standstill.

At the event launching new property and land consultancy Chapel Place Limited in Tunbridge Wells, Vertex Law Chief Executive Richard Blackman called for the 106 agreement between councils and developers to be put on hold to allow developers to focus their finances on finishing building homes.

The 106 agreement requires businesses to make a monetary contribution to things like building new traffic lights or new schools in areas where they develop housing estates.

Mr Blackman said removing it is necessary to keep the house-building sector moving in the current economic climate.

Mr Blackman said: “Many of the larger development schemes planned before the recession hit are no longer affordable and have been mothballed.

“Factors making them uneconomic are the Section 106 agreements agreed with local councils detailing the contributions developers have to make to local infrastructure once their projects get underway.

“In the current changed circumstances, it is important for local authorities and developers to recognise they need to work together to help stimulate development and make sure that much needed housing and infrastructure projects get built. Renegotiating Section 106 agreements will help achieve this.

“This is not a case of writing off the obligations on developers. It is a pragmatic solution to help get the house building sector moving again. It should include regular re-appraisals of a scheme's value, so that as the economy improves, developers contribute more.”