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 dates11,302Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 9,447 approved or refused records
423Refused applications
9,024 approved · 423 refused · 532 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided07/378/LB
Erect canvas and aluminium canopy
54-56 Victoria Street, Kirkwall, KW15 1DN
Received 26 Jun 2007 - Decided07/379/PPF
Installation of GRP Kiosk to house electrical equipment
Kettletoft, Sanday,
Received 26 Jun 2007 - Decided07/380/PPF
Extend a house
Glenvanna, Cairston Road, Stromness, KW16 3JT
Received 26 Jun 2007 - Decided07/382/APN
Erect GP Shed
Eastbrae, Stromness
Received 26 Jun 2007 - Decided07/381/PPF
Modification of conditions 2 & 3 of consent 04/469/PPO for additional 3 years
Canker, Sanday
Received 26 Jun 2007 - Decided07/384/PPF
Erect a house
Mount Pleasant (Land Near), Pierowall, Westray
Received 28 Jun 2007 - Decided07/385/PPF
Erect a house and garage
Site 24, Soulisquoy Place, Kirkwall
Received 28 Jun 2007 - Decided07/386/PPF
Erect a house
Fiold (Land Near), Westray
Received 28 Jun 2007 - Decided07/383/PPF
Re-roof and extend existing building and create new frontage
George Bain - Painter & Decorators, Great Western Road, Kirkwall
Received 28 Jun 2007 - Decided07/388/PPF
Erect a house
Dellovo, New Scapa Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1BL
Received 29 Jun 2007 - Decided07/389/PPF
Alterations and renovations to house
Mayback, Papa Westray
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/390/PPF
Conversion of 2 flats to 4 flats
5 & 7 Matches Square, Kirkwall
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/391/PPF
Extend a house and erect garage
Riff, Rendall
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/392/PPF
Extend a house
Upper Crowrar, Rendall
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/393/PPF
Erect a house
Skibbowick (land Near), Tankerness
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/394/APN
Erect GP shed
Bron Queena, Harray
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/395/PPF
Extend house, formation of access and erect boundary
Savedale Cottage, Sandwick
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/396/EB
Multiple Wave Energy Convertor Project
EMEC Centre, Stromness
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/397/PPF
Extend house and erect garage
Graemeshall Farmhouse, Holm, KW17 2RX
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/398/PPF
Renovation of existing offices and creation of studio flat
21 Bridge Street, Kirkwall
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/399/LB
Alterations and repairs to roof, walls and windows and internal changes to create offices
21 Bridge Street, Kirkwall
Received 2 Jul 2007 - Decided07/400/PPF
Erect a house
Collingwood, North End Road, Stromness
Received 4 Jul 2007 - Decided07/401/APN
Erect GP shed
Towerhouse, Lyness
Received 4 Jul 2007 - Decided07/402/PPF
Erect a garage
Greenquoy, Glaitness Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1TN
Received 4 Jul 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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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