Pressure is on to find space to help meet the latest housebuilding target. As a result, there’s massive interest in well-located sites with planning consent.

Despite the predicted slowdown in house prices, there is still a demand for more land for development to meet Government targets, according to Kent property experts RPC Land and New Homes.

The Government has said that three million new homes need to be built by 2020 and promised to deliver more than 70,000 affordable properties a year by 2011, in an £8 billion drive to boost supply.

However, the Office for National Statistics said that by 2031, the UK population is expected to have risen from its current level of 60 million to 71 million owing to longer life expectancy and increased levels of immigration.

If these projections are accurate, further strain will be put on the housing market as, currently, levels needed to meet demand are not being achieved.

RPC Land Director Mark Linington said: "Although there is clearly a slowdown in the housing market, this should not deflect from the need for more land to match development projections which are currently not being met due to a lack of proper reform in the planning process and the dwindling number of brownfield sites among other factors.

"Although there is downward pressure on land values due to the slowdown in the housing market, well-located sites with the right planning consent are still attracting a good level of interest from developers.

"In a toughening market it is even more important to seek early advice from a development specialist to ensure that a housing scheme is maximising value."

Interest rates, affordable housing levels and local authority costs are rising steeply and landowners looking to sell are being urged to talk to the experts if they want to get the best possible price for their plots.

Mark Linington added: "The demand for land is certainly there as homes need to be built, but anyone thinking of selling a plot for redevelopment needs to make sure they are taking expert advice.

"Talking to a professional means a landowner can get the most appropriate development, which will return the best possible price.

"In the last couple of weeks we have received 21 bids for a site in Tonbridge and 12 for a site in Ashford - both were for sensible schemes in good locations."

RPC Land and New Homes has offices across Kent in Chatham, Maidstone, Dartford, Ashford and Tonbridge as well as in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

For further information visit www.rpcland.co.uk