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 dates11,400Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 9,536 approved or refused records
425Refused applications
9,111 approved · 425 refused · 536 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided07/612/PPF
Extend a house
Marivore, Finstown, KW17 2ER
Received 8 Nov 2007 - Decided07/613/LB
Internal alterations to ground floor to create new office, utility, toilet/shower room and kitchen; enlarge opening in wall by kitchen and construct steps
102 Victoria Street, Stromness
Received 8 Nov 2007 - Decided07/614/PPF
Erect a house with detached garage
Monument Field, Trumland, Rousay
Received 8 Nov 2007 - Decided07/615/PPF
Extension to existing landfill site for ten years (Inert material :- builders rubble)
Kingsdale (landfill Site), Firth
Received 8 Nov 2007 - Decided07/616/PPF
Erect shed
Blascona, Dounby
Received 12 Nov 2007 - Decided07/617/PPF
Erect a house with integral garage
East Heddle (land Near, Plot 6), Firth
Received 12 Nov 2007 - Decided07/618/PPF
Change of use to car storage and sales
Former Orkney Glassfibre Premises, Scott's Road, Hatston, Kirkwall
Received 13 Nov 2007 - Decided07/619/APN
Erect GP shed
Wardhill Road, Stromness
Received 13 Nov 2007 - Decided07/620/PPF
Erect horticultural shed
Dalespot (Land Near), St Ola
Received 13 Nov 2007 - Decided07/621/PPF
Convert barn to dwelling unit
Howe, Evie, KW17 2PJ
Received 14 Nov 2007 - Decided07/622/SCO
Scoping for Orkney Container Hub
Lyness, Hoy
Received 14 Nov 2007 - Decided07/623/PPF
Extend a house
7 Papdale Drive, Kirkwall
Received 14 Nov 2007 - Decided07/624/PPF
Alterations to shop front
68 Victoria Street, Kirkwall
Received 14 Nov 2007 - Decided07/625/PPF
Extend house and erect garage
Springfield Cottage, Christie's Brae Stromness
Received 15 Nov 2007 - Decided07/626/AD
Display sign
Torvhaug, 4 Bridge Street, Kirkwall
Received 15 Nov 2007 - Decided07/628/PPF
Erect house
North Kirk, (land Near), Shapinsay
Received 16 Nov 2007 - Decided07/627/LB
Install a satellite dish
Swanbister House, Orphir
Received 16 Nov 2007 - Decided07/629/PPF
Extend house
Curlews, Deerness
Received 16 Nov 2007 - Decided07/630/PPF
Erect a house and detached garage
Willow Bank (Land Near), School Road, St Margaret's Hope
Received 19 Nov 2007 - Decided07/631/PPO
Siting of replacement house
Savedale, Stenness
Received 20 Nov 2007 - Decided07/632/PPF
Erect domestic wind turbine (height 15m)
Appietown, Rendall, KW17 2PB
Received 22 Nov 2007 - Decided07/633/APN
Erect GP shed
Nether Lidda, Tankerness
Received 22 Nov 2007 - Decided07/634/PPF
Demolish existing and erect new boat storage shed
North End Road, Stromness
Received 22 Nov 2007 - Decided07/635/PPF
Continue quarrying
Trumland Farm, Rousay
Received 22 Nov 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