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 dates11,370Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 9,507 approved or refused records
425Refused applications
9,082 approved · 425 refused · 535 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided07/565/PPF
Erect a 6kW wind turbine
West Of The Lighthouse, North Ronaldsay
Received 10 Oct 2007 - Decided07/566/PPF
Erect an 8.5m high monopole with a 1.2m diameter aerial dish
Eday Telephone Exchange, Eday
Received 10 Oct 2007 - Decided07/567/PPF
Erect 5 static caravans
Sandihall (land Near), Westray
Received 10 Oct 2007 - Decided07/568/PPF
Erect a garage
Ben-Meri, Dounby, KW17 2HS
Received 10 Oct 2007 - Decided07/569/PPF
Extend a house
7 Church Road, Stromness
Received 11 Oct 2007 - Decided07/570/PPO
Siting of 3 replacement houses
Berriedale Farm, (land Near), South Ronaldsay
Received 15 Oct 2007 - Decided07/571/APN
Erect GP shed
Upper Onston, Stenness
Received 15 Oct 2007 - Decided07/572/PPR
Erect house with detached garage with ancillary living accommodation
Baikie's Land, Sanday, KW17 2BA
Received 16 Oct 2007 - Decided07/573/PPF
Erect house and wind turbine
Trumland Farm, (Site 1), Rousay
Received 16 Oct 2007 - Decided07/574/PPF
Erect house and wind turbine
Trumland Farm, (Site 2), Rousay
Received 16 Oct 2007 - Decided07/575/PPF
Install petrol pump and 5,000 litre underground fuel storage tank
The Shop, Balfour Village, Shapinsay
Received 16 Oct 2007 - Decided07/577/PPF
Erect agricultural building including GP area and slatted court
Moa, Stenness, KW16 3HQ
Received 18 Oct 2007 - Decided07/578/PPF
Subdivision of main church sanctuary to form church and dwelling
Shapinsay Church Of Scotland, Shapinsay
Received 18 Oct 2007 - Decided07/579/PPF
Installation of velux windows within conservation area
1 Palace Gardens, Kirkwall
Received 18 Oct 2007 - Decided07/580/PPF
Re-roof Matchmakers Bar
Albert Hotel, Mounthoolie Lane, Kirkwall, KW15 1JZ
Received 18 Oct 2007 - Decided07/581/PPF
Extend a house
Windbreck, Stronsay
Received 18 Oct 2007 - Decided07/583/PPF
Erect a 6kW wind turbine
Eday Heritage & Visitor Centre, Old Baptist Chapel, Eday
Received 18 Oct 2007 - Decided07/582/PPF
Extend a house
Heath Cottage, Russland Road, Harray
Received 18 Oct 2007 - Decided07/584/LB
Replacement of roof on Number 1 kiln to match roof recently installed on Number 2 kiln
Highland Park Distillery, Holm Road, Kirkwall
Received 22 Oct 2007 - Decided07/585/PPF
Convert garage to self-catering unit
Eastbank, East Road, Kirkwall
Received 22 Oct 2007 - Decided07/586/PPR
Erect a house with integral garage
Springs (land Near), Burray
Received 22 Oct 2007 - Decided07/587/PPF
Erection of a bus garage
9 Garson Place, Garson Industrial Estate, Stromness
Received 22 Oct 2007 - Withdrawn/Returned07/588/APN
Erect shed
Dalespot (land Near), St Ola
Received 22 Oct 2007 - Decided07/589/PPF
Extend a house
Cot Of Grimbister, Firth
Received 23 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