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 dates11,363Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 9,501 approved or refused records
425Refused applications
9,076 approved · 425 refused · 534 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 1 Feb 2005 to 5 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 11 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided07/543/APN
Erect GP shed
Gerraquoy, Grimness, South Ronaldsay, KW17 2TH
Received 25 Sept 2007 - Decided07/544/PPF
Alter and extend house
Saverock House, St Ola
Received 25 Sept 2007 - Decided07/545/PPF
Erect replacement store
4 Ayre Houses, Ayre Road, Kirkwall
Received 25 Sept 2007 - Decided07/546/PPF
Erect a house with integral garage
North Bigging, Dounby
Received 26 Sept 2007 - Decided07/547/PPF
Erect a house
Plot 25, The Meadows, Kirkwall
Received 26 Sept 2007 - Decided07/550/PN
Install low level cabinet
Flotta Oil Terminal, Flotta
Received 27 Sept 2007 - Decided07/549/PPF
Erect a garage
Pipersquoy Road (Land Near), Kirkwall
Received 1 Oct 2007 - Decided07/551/PPF
Installation of transmission dishes at existing telecommunications tower
Netherfiold, Pierowall, Westray
Received 1 Oct 2007 - Decided07/552/PPF
Extend a house
Brenary, Scapa, St Ola
Received 1 Oct 2007 - Decided07/553/PPF
Extend a house
Mallard Cottage, Mirbister, Dounby
Received 1 Oct 2007 - Decided07/555/PPR
Convert farm building to dwelling
Nether Onston, Stenness
Received 1 Oct 2007 - Decided07/556/PPF
Convert building to 2 flats
Former Engine Test Building, Hatston, Kirkwall
Received 1 Oct 2007 - Decided07/557/OIC
Create a civic amenity site/recycling centre
Crowness Crescent, Kirkwall
Received 1 Oct 2007 - Decided07/558/PPF
Erect garage and office/studio
Norheim, Orphir
Received 1 Oct 2007 - Decided06/686/MAR
Renewal of works licence
West Fara, Hoy
Received 19 Apr 2006 - Decided07/559/PN
Installation of additional 600mm dish antenna onto existing tower
Sanday Radio Station, Sanday
Received 2 Oct 2007 - Decided06/685/MAR
Amendment of works licence
Bay Of Meil, St Ola
Received 8 Jan 2006 - Decided07/554/PPF
Erect house with integral garage
Unigarth, Sandwick
Received 3 Oct 2007 - Decided07/560/MAR
Renewal of works licence
Bay Of Firth, Firth
Received 7 Feb 2007 - Decided05/782/MAR
Application for a works licence
Mill Bay Hoy
Received 1 Sept 2005 - Decided07/561/PPF
Renovate and reinstate house
Stews, St Margaret's Hope
Received 4 Oct 2007 - Decided07/562/PPO
Replacement house
Quoys Of Ayre, Burness, Firth
Received 4 Oct 2007 - Decided07/563/PPF
Erect general purpose shed
Ness Farm, Shapinsay
Received 9 Oct 2007 - Withdrawn/Returned07/564/PPO
Siting of a house
Garson, Stromness
Received 10 Oct 2007
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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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