Kent and Medway can expect to see few changes in the number of homes being built – despite major changes ushered in this week by the government.

Housing secretary Michael Gove announced a relaxation of planning laws which would see more focus on creating homes in our major cities and urban areas.

One of the key proposals is making it easier to turn former retail sites into homes and repurpose agricultural buildings.

But despite hopes it may mean an easing of building across the county – amid mounting concerns over the loss of greenfield sites in all our boroughs – don’t expect to see any slowdown.

Explains Spencer Fortag, who runs estate agent Dockside Property Services in Medway: “I think the status quo will be maintained.

“We have a lot of local employers across the county and they want people who will be living close to where they work.

“The city growth strategy is great, but I keep coming back to the fact England is more than 90% open space so there is enough space to create new communities with good logistics and good infrastructure.”

As we recently revealed, many boroughs in the county have less than 10% of their total area classed as developed. Among them are the likes of Ashford, Canterbury, Maidstone, Swale and Dover.

In his speech outlining the reforms, Michael Gove said: “Cities are where the demand for housing is greatest. It is better for the environment, the economy, for productivity and well-being if we use all of the levers that we have to promote urban regeneration – rather than swallowing up virgin land.

“That is why we will enable brownfield development rather than green belt erosion, sustainable growth rather than suburban sprawl.

“So the economic and environmental imperatives all point towards a move away from a land-hungry destruction of natural habitats in favour of a much more efficient regeneration of our cities.”

However, smaller cities such as Canterbury are unlikely to be high on the list of priorities for focused housebuilding – with the likes of London and Cambridge announced in the first 20 destinations set for active brownfield redevelopment.

Yet, as we know from experience, Kent’s proximity to London and perceived wealth is unlikely to see any building slowdown, with demand continuing to outstrip supply.

Spencer Fortag also suggests the shift of shops to residential is unlikely to usher in major changes to our town centres.

“The proposition isn’t that that dissimilar to what we saw in 2013 with the introduction of permitted development for office space,” he explains.

That allowed property owners to turn office space in town centres into residential space.

But while it had an impact in terms of reducing office space in our towns – seen as a blow as workers spend money in the local shops – it didn’t trigger a huge flood of additional homes entering the rental market.

Spencer Fortag says in Medway alone, just 300 homes have been created by the move over the last 10 years.

He added: “The government’s idea then was of being able to convert office space predominantly above ground floor shops into residential under permitted development.

“It’s not had a massive impact, but I think credit should be given to the government for trying to think of new ways of approaching the issue.

“At least they are firmly focused on creating new homes for people. The key, as ever, is to make sure people can afford those homes and that the infrastructure is in place wherever new homes are added.”

The shift of converting shops into homes has been met with some anxiety from many, however.

Among them the Local Government Association. Its chair, Shaun Davies, said: “There is no doubt we need more homes as well as to reinvigorate our high streets and town centres. However, premises such as offices, barns, and shops are not always suitable for housing.

“Further expanding permitted development rights risks creating poor quality residential environments that negatively impact people’s health and wellbeing, as well as a lack of affordable housing or suitable infrastructure.”

Speaking last year, in part of a series of special KentOnline reports into the state of the high street, Lisa Carlson, chief executive of the Canterbury Business Improvement District and chair of the Association of Town and City Management, warned against too much residential in our town and city centres.

She said: “I wouldn't want to see much ground floor space - if any - go to residential. And we'd have to be careful about above ground floor - it has to be done well.

"Housing is needed and there's space [in town centres] that's being underutilised.

"Historically when you think of housing developments you think of Section 106 payments [funds from developers to strengthen the surrounding infrastructure] going towards transport, education and health facilities.

“Well, in town and city centres, you should have, in theory, some of that, which could make it easier. You also then have a captive audience who will be able to shop and go out locally.

“The challenge when introducing more residential is – what about the night-time economy?”