Understanding planning · 13 min read
Planning application documents: what to read first
Understand planning application documents, officer reports and decision notices. Use a reading checklist, document table and worked example to inspect a case.
Scotland · Local authority
Orkney Islands
Planning applications.
Explore collected planning applications and decisions for Orkney Islands. Search an address, application reference or proposal to find a record.
Collected application statistics
Collected records · All available dates11,938Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 10,034 approved or refused records
434Refused applications
9,600 approved · 434 refused · 560 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 26 Nov 1987 to 5 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 12 Oct 2026. Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.
Local planning information
Council sources checked 14 Sept 2026Planning information Planning and BuildingLocal plan Development and Marine Planning (policy)Pre-application advice Pre-application AdviceConservation areas Conservation Area Consent
Council contacts
- Planning enquiries01856873535Council source
- Planning enquiriesplanning@orkney.gov.ukCouncil source
Contact details were found on council pages. Check the source for opening hours and which enquiries the service handles.
Conservation areas and Article 4 directions
Explore published planning boundaries and follow their source records for designation details. Coverage varies: an empty map does not mean there are no restrictions. Check the council’s current maps and documents before relying on a boundary.
Conservation areas6 mapped area records
Article 4 direction areasBoundary dataset not connected
Interactive planning map loads with JavaScript. Dataset sources are linked below.
Download Article 4 coverage for all authorities (CSV)
Data downloaded 14 Sept 2026. Display boundaries are simplified and indicative. Map record counts are not a complete count of designations or directions.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland. Contains Historic Environment Scotland and Ordnance Survey data © Historic Environment Scotland – Scottish Charity No. SC045925 © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data is indicative and may not contain the latest designations.
More application records
- Withdrawn/Returned09/286/PPF
Erect a house with detached garage and vehicular access
Braemor (Land Near), Downie's Lane, Stromness, KW16 3EP
Received 2 Jul 2009 - Decided09/287/PPF
Alter and extend existing flue system
The Willows Takeaway, The Willows, Kirkwall, KW15 1NJ
Received 2 Jul 2009 - Decided09/288/AD
Display a sign
Travel Centre, Junction Road, Kirkwall
Received 3 Jul 2009 - Decided09/289/PPF
Amendment to application number 06/570/PPF to regularise change from dormer window to roof light and installation of garage window and air source heat pump
Site 1 (Land Near), Newark, Harray
Received 3 Jul 2009 - Decided09/290/AD
Display signage
The Co-operative, North End Road, Stromness
Received 3 Jul 2009 - Decided09/291/PPR
Erect a house for self catering tourist accommodation
Newhaven (Land Near), Dalespot, St Ola, KW15 1SX
Received 3 Jul 2009 - Decided09/292/MAR
Install 70 tonnes Akva boat style barge inside existing mooring containment area
Kirknoust, Rousay Sound
Received 3 Jul 2009 - Decided09/293/PPF
Extend a house
Atholl Cottage, 50A Albert Street, Kirkwall
Received 6 Jul 2009 - Decided09/294/PPF
Erect 2 semi-detached houses with integral garages
Plots 32 & 32A (Land Near), The Meadows, Kirkwall
Received 6 Jul 2009 - Decided09/295/PPF
Erect 2 semi-detached houses with integral garages
Plots 45 & 45A (Land Near), The Meadows, Kirkwall
Received 6 Jul 2009 - Decided09/296/PPF
Erect 2 semi-detached houses with integral garages
Plots 50 & 50A (Land Near), The Meadows, Kirkwall
Received 6 Jul 2009 - Decided09/297/PPF
Erect 3 terraced houses
Plot 52 (Land Near), The Meadows, Kirkwall
Received 6 Jul 2009 - Decided09/298/PPF
Erect 3 terraced houses
Plot 53 (Land Near), The Meadows, Kirkwall
Received 6 Jul 2009 - Decided09/299/PPF
Erect 3 terraced houses
Plot 54 (Land Near), The Meadows, Kirkwall
Received 6 Jul 2009 - Decided09/300/PPF
Erect 2 semi-detached houses with integral garages
Plots 64 & 65A (Land Near), The Meadows, Kirkwall
Received 6 Jul 2009 - Decided09/301/AD
Display a sign
31 Albert Street, Kirkwall, KW15 1HL
Received 7 Jul 2009 - Decided09/302/LB
Display a sign
31 Albert Street, Kirkwall, KW15 1HL
Received 7 Jul 2009 - Decided09/303/PPF
Extend a house
7 Soulisquoy Loan, Kirkwall, KW15 1BY
Received 7 Jul 2009 - Withdrawn/Returned09/304/PPF
Extend a gallery
Former Burray Church, Burray
Received 8 Jul 2009 - Decided09/305/PPF
Convert outbuilding to 3 houses
Quoyling, St Ola, KW15 1SE
Received 9 Jul 2009 - Decided09/306/PPF
Erect a control building to house pumping equipment and construct new access
Ness Road (Land Near), Stromness, KW16 3DL
Received 10 Jul 2009 - Decided09/307/PPF
Construct a vehicle lay-by, underground pumping chambers and sea retaining wall
Well Park (Land Near), Ness Road, Stromness, KW16 3DN
Received 10 Jul 2009 - Decided09/308/PPF
Erect a GRP kiosk to house pumping equipment
Grays Noust (Land Near), Dundas Street, Stromness, KW16 3EB
Received 10 Jul 2009 - Decided09/309/PPF
Erect a GRP kiosk
Logins Well (Land Near), 12 South End, Stromness, KW16 3DJ
Received 10 Jul 2009
Records are ordered by application ID, not submission date. Use search to find a particular address or proposal.
View all applicationsResearching a proposal in Orkney Islands
Start with the address or application reference. Open a record to read the proposal, dates and available documents, then check the official register for the latest plans and consultation details. If nothing appears, check coverage before treating the result as a complete planning history.
Planning procedures in Scotland differ from those in England. Use the authority’s own guidance for application requirements, comments and decision timescales.
How to search planning applicationsGuides to planning records
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Understand planning approval rates with an interactive calculator, worked examples and comparison table. Check sample sizes, outcomes and coverage before comparing.
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What these statistics cover
These figures describe applications collected by PlanningTrack for Orkney Islands, across all dates currently available. They are a partial dataset, rather than an authority-wide performance measure. The date range does not establish continuous historical coverage.
The approval percentage is approved records divided by approved plus refused records. Pending, withdrawn and unknown outcomes are excluded. No percentage is shown until there is an approved or refused record.
Check collection coverage