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 dates11,977Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 10,072 approved or refused records
434Refused applications
9,638 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 24 Sept 1979 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided10/156/PP
Convert and extend disused outbuildings to form 2 self-catering units
Quoy Of Houton, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RD
Received 25 Mar 2010 - Decided10/157/LB
Convert and extend disused outbuildings to form 2 self-catering units involving: partial demolition; re-roofing with a mix of slate and metal sheeting; installation of metal rainwater goods; and new and replacement windows
Quoy Of Houton, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RD
Received 25 Mar 2010 - Decided10/158/EB
Install a double pole
Smithy, Hammars Hill, Evie, Orkney
Received 25 Mar 2010 - Decided10/159/APN
Demolish existing stone sheds and erect a GP shed
Northfield, Burray, Orkney KW17 2SY
Received 25 Mar 2010 - Decided10/160/PP
Extend a house to form a self-catering unit
Holmlea, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RD
Received 25 Mar 2010 - Decided10/161/PP
Erect a wind turbine generator (max. height 15m)
Pictail, Deerness, Orkney, KW17 2QL
Received 25 Mar 2010 - Decided10/162/PP
Erect a wind turbine generator (max. height 18m)
Gaira, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2RL
Received 25 Mar 2010 - Decided10/163/PP
Extend a house and install an air source heat pump
Hutter, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3HU
Received 26 Mar 2010 - Decided10/164/APN
Erect a GP shed
West Manse, Westray, Orkney, KW17 2DR
Received 26 Mar 2010 - Decided10/165/PP
Convert disused outbuilding to form ancillary living accommodation to adjacent house
Peatwell, Papa Westray, Orkney, KW17 2BU
Received 26 Mar 2010 - Decided10/166/PP
Replace single-glazed windows with double-glazed windows
1C Laing Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NW
Received 26 Mar 2010 - Decided10/167/PP
Extend a slatted court
Workwell Farm, Orphir, Orkney
Received 26 Mar 2010 - Decided10/168/APN
Erect a GP shed
Norton Farm, Dounby, Orkney, KW17 2HS
Received 29 Mar 2010 - Withdrawn/Returned10/169/VR
Vary condition 3 and 17 of permission 09/092/PPF to allow a period of 5 years for the whole development to be operational and to allow 12 months from the installation of the turbine for works on the offices and workshop to have commenced to above foundation level
Crowness Business Park (Site 3) (Land Near), Hatston Industrial Estate, Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 29 Mar 2010 - Decided10/170/PP
Amend planning permission 09/430/PP to move location of grain store
Seatter, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1TB
Received 30 Mar 2010 - Decided10/171/PP
Erect an integral garage
Bridgewood, Willowburn Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NG
Received 30 Mar 2010 - Decided10/172/PP
Erect a wind turbine generator (max. height 18m)
Twatt Farm, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2LN
Received 30 Mar 2010 - Decided10/173/PP
Erect a house, outbuilding and site a temporary caravan
Grindally (Land Near), Sanday, Orkney, KW17 2BA
Received 30 Mar 2010 - Decided10/174/PP
Erect a detached garage
Kaya, Stenness, Orkney, KW16 3JX
Received 30 Mar 2010 - Decided10/175/PP
Erect a house with integral garage
Weyland Drive (Plot 5) (Land Near), Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 30 Mar 2010 - Decided10/176/PP
Erect a cafe/shop and 2 houses
Downies (Land Near) Deerness Orkney
Received 30 Mar 2010 - Decided10/177/PP
Erect a cattle shed over existing slurry tank
Linday, Sandwick, Orkney, KW16 3JE
Received 31 Mar 2010 - Decided10/178/PP
Erect 4 semi-detached houses
Grimsetter Drive (Land Near), Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 31 Mar 2010 - Decided10/179/APN
Erect a GP shed
Eastpoint, Hackness, Longhope, Orkney, KW16 3PQ
Received 31 Mar 2010
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