People are bracing themselves for two months of disruption while the crossroads at the heart of a village are improved.

Work at the junction of Highgate Hill with High Street, Cranbrook Road and Rye Road in the centre of Hawkhurst is due to start on March 31.

It is being carried out by housebuilder Dandara as part of conditions imposed when planning permission was granted for 71 homes on Highgate Hill.

The work will go ahead in three phases.

From March 31 to April 27, villagers can expect lane closures on the Cranbrook Road side of the junction.

From April 28 to May 25, there will be lane closures on the Highgate Hill side.

Then from May 26 for approximately five days, the crossroads will be fully open but controlled by temporary traffic lights, while updated permanent signals are installed.

The scheme has been approved by both KCC and National Highways, but as it involves the key intersection between the A229 and the A268, there are bound to be delays.

The junction is already heavily congested at peak periods, which is why the improvements are deemed necessary as it is thought the crossroads won’t cope with the extra traffic from the development.

The work will see the upgrading and installation of new traffic lights at the four-way junction and will include renewing the existing puffin crossing and integrating it to work with the new traffic light system. The junction will also be resurfaced.

Separately, Dandara was told to put in a new pedestrian crossing further down Rye Road, and that work has already been completed.

A Dandara spokesman said: “We will be working closely with local authorities to minimise the disruption, but we apologise in advance for any inconvenience the work may cause.”

People can ask for more details about the crossroads scheme by emailing customercaresouth@dandara.com

Dandara was initially refused permission for its development by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) in May 2021 but was granted permission on appeal to a government planning inspector in March 2022.

The scheme includes 26 affordable homes and an area of open space covering 6.5 hectares.

Details can be found on the TWBC website. Look for application number 20/02788.

Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.

Properties on the development, which has been named The Russetts, are already being advertised for sale, with prices ranging from £355,000 to £730,000.