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 dates11,955Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 10,051 approved or refused records
434Refused applications
9,617 approved · 434 refused · 560 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 20 Mar 1986 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided09/359/PP
Erect a replacement house
Naversdale (Land Near), Orphir
Received 7 Aug 2009 - Decided09/360/PP
Erect a wind turbine generator (max. height 15m)
Horrie Toab Orkney KW17 2QU
Received 7 Aug 2009 - Decided09/361/PP
Erect a house with detached garage
Greenfield (Site 2) (Land Near), St Ola
Received 11 Aug 2009 - Decided09/362/PP
Extend a house
Westlea, Cromarty Square, St Margarets Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2SN
Received 13 Aug 2009 - Decided09/363/AMC
Erect a replacement house with integral garage
Jubidale (Land Near), Birsay
Received 14 Aug 2009 - Decided09/364/PIP
Siting of a replacement house
Nether Gaira (Land Near), St Margarets Hope, KW17 2RL
Received 14 Aug 2009 - Decided09/365/PP
Extend a house, erect dormer extension, fell a tree and create an access (Resubmission of 09/198)
87 John Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AD
Received 17 Aug 2009 - Decided09/366/LB
Expose stone gable and frontage with lime mortar repairs; wet harl outbuildings and extensions; re-roof with slate and stone; internal alterations including new toilets; convert outhouse to kitchen/dining area, modify side building to accommodate gated vehicle port and add scullery
87 John Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AD
Received 18 Aug 2009 - Decided09/367/PP
Siting of a caravan for tourist accommodation (retrospective)
Ruemuera, Burray, Orkney, KW17 2SU
Received 18 Aug 2009 - Decided09/368/PP
Extend a house
Workshop Cottage, Evie, Orkney, KW17 2NN
Received 18 Aug 2009 - Decided09/369/PP
Amend planning permission 08/168/PPF to relocate wind turbine generator (max. height 15m)
Gable End Theatre, Old School, North Walls, KW16 3NX
Received 18 Aug 2009 - Decided09/370/PP
Erect a wind turbine generator (max. height 18m)
Lynnfield, Hunclett Road, Holm, Orkney, KW17 2RZ
Received 18 Aug 2009 - Withdrawn/Returned09/371/PP
Erect 2 wind turbine generators (max. height 15m)
Burnside, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3LJ
Received 20 Aug 2009 - Decided09/372/PP
Erect a conservatory
51 Reid Crescent, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1UD
Received 20 Aug 2009 - Decided09/373/PP
Construct new access track and install switchgear buildings for approved wind turbine (04/224/PPF)
Blackawall (Land Near), West Hill, Flotta
Received 20 Aug 2009 - Decided09/374/AMC
Erect a house
Greenfield (Site 1) (Land Near), St Ola
Received 20 Aug 2009 - Decided09/375/PP
Erect a straw bedded cattle court with feeding area
Sebay, Tankerness, KW17 2QU
Received 21 Aug 2009 - Decided09/376/PP
Erect a slatted court
Hindatoon Farm, Harray, KW17 2JT
Received 21 Aug 2009 - Decided09/377/LB
Erect a bin store
Kirkwall Town Hall & Cavern, St Magnus Lane, Kirkwall, KW15 1DJ
Received 21 Aug 2009 - Decided09/378/PP
Erect a house
Hurtiso (Plot 6) (Land Near), Holm
Received 26 Aug 2009 - Decided09/379/PP
Extend a house
5A Coplands Drive, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BN
Received 26 Aug 2009 - Decided09/381/PP
Erect a replacement house and detached garage
Bron Queena (Land Near), Tufta, Harray, KW17 2JR
Received 26 Aug 2009 - Decided09/382/LB
Change roofing material on lean-to from asbestos to Welsh slate to match house
13 St Catherine's Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HX
Received 26 Aug 2009 - Decided09/383/LB
Remove handrails and re-hang existing external doors
Church Of Scotland, Victoria Street, Stromness
Received 27 Aug 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