County villages will be able to access a £23 million Government fund to help them develop their own local development plans. In West Worcestershire, a handful of villages have already created their own neighbourhood plans including Kempsey, Clifton upon Teme, Bredon and Bredon's Norton, Martley, Knightwick and Doddenham, and a Government fund was confirmed to help other communities to progress their own plan. Hanley Castle is currently consulting on its plan. MP Harriett Baldwin welcomed the fund which will help villages to get access to free expert advice as well as being able to bid for a grant worth up to £17,000. Harriett ran a workshop for Worcestershire parishes in 2013 to help them start the process of developing a formal plan. Each plan sets out a blueprint for allowable development - allowing communities to have a say on where and when new housing is built as well as needs for extra infrastructure investment like roads, playing areas and even new schools or GP surgeries. Harriett commented: "Neighbourhood Plans allow local people to have a very clear view on what housing development they would like to see to help their communities to grow. "I gathered many county parishes to an event more than four years ago and it was clear some groups were concerned at the costs associated with developing a plan. "This extra funding will hopefully motivate some local communities to take a fresh look at developing a plan and adding to the list of local villages who have clearly made their views known on acceptable local development."