New rules have been put in place to ensure residents are properly consulted on the planning issues that affect them.

At a meeting of Hertsmere Borough Council last week, councillors voted to update the authority's statement of community involvement to encourage residents to be “effectively and meaningfully” involved in planning.

The decision was made following the Elstree Way Corridor public meetings in October and the council’s decision to demolish Isopad House, on which many residents felt they were not properly consulted.

Following Wednesday’s meeting, the council will now post applications on Twitter and Facebook to ensure council tax payers are aware of them.

Developers will be expected to consult residents before they put in an application and detail how they have gone about it.

The council will also ensure all residents living near developments of 50 homes or 5,000sq m of industrial space can have their say. 

Councillor Harvey Cohen, who is responsible for planning, said: "The council already meets and exceeds its statutory obligations on public consultation on planning issues, but we want to do all we can to ensure we engage with the public on matters that they feel strongly about and have every opportunity to have their say proactively and before any key decisions are made."