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 dates11,413Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 9,546 approved or refused records
425Refused applications
9,121 approved · 425 refused · 539 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided07/664/PPF
Extend a house
Bellevue, Harray
Received 6 Dec 2007 - Decided07/663/PPF
Erect 4 houses
Rufford, (land Near), Burray
Received 6 Dec 2007 - Decided07/662/PPF
Convert 2 outbuildings to dwelling units
Lochside, Greeny, Birsay
Received 6 Dec 2007 - Decided07/665/PPF
Erect barn and GP shed
Holland Farm, Stronsay, KW17 2AJ
Received 7 Dec 2007 - Decided07/666/PPF
Replace windows
Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Church, Main Street, Kirkwall
Received 7 Dec 2007 - Decided07/667/PPF
Extend a house
Ocean View, Westray
Received 11 Dec 2007 - Decided07/668/PPR
Erection of 2 houses
Newcastle, Burray
Received 11 Dec 2007 - Decided07/669/PPF
Erect 6 affordable houses
Hillhead, (land Near), Deerness
Received 11 Dec 2007 - Decided07/670/PPF
Demolition of existing fire-damaged house and erection of new house
Caldene, St Ola, KW15 1TR
Received 11 Dec 2007 - Decided07/671/PPO
Siting of replacement house
Quoy Of Herston, St Margaret's Hope
Received 13 Dec 2007 - Decided07/672/PN
Attach 3 antenna and 2 dishes to existing tower
SSE Sanday Radio Station, Sanday
Received 13 Dec 2007 - Decided07/673/PN
Attach 2 antenna and 3 dishes to existing tower
Ward Hill Radio Station, South Ronaldsay
Received 13 Dec 2007 - Decided07/674/PN
Install antenna
Firth Primary School, Finstown
Received 17 Dec 2007 - Withdrawn/Returned07/676/LB
Install valve pit, concrete slabs, three lighting structures and temporary portable building during oil transfers (about 6 days) on listed pier
Lyness, Hoy
Received 17 Dec 2007 - Withdrawn/Returned07/677/HAZ
Storage of diesel oil (Max 100,000 tonnes)
Lyness, Hoy
Received 17 Dec 2007 - Withdrawn/Returned07/675/PPF
Refurbish and install new section of fuel pipeline; install valve pit, manhole cover, hard standing, temporary building and lighting on "Golden Wharf"; and install services and site facilities
Lyness, Hoy
Received 17 Dec 2007 - Decided07/678/PPF
Erect wind turbine generator (height 15m)
Hoy Kirk (land Near), Hoy
Received 18 Dec 2007 - Decided07/679/OIC
Erect trowel trades workshop and site works
Orkney College, East Road, Kirkwall
Received 18 Dec 2007 - Decided07/680/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Flotta Primary School, Flotta
Received 19 Dec 2007 - Decided07/681/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Hoy Core & Cluster, Hoy
Received 19 Dec 2007 - Decided07/682/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Orphir Primary School, Orphir
Received 19 Dec 2007 - Decided07/683/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Scapa Flow Visitor Centre, Lyness, Hoy
Received 19 Dec 2007 - Decided07/684/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Shapinsay Primary School, Shapinsay
Received 19 Dec 2007 - Decided07/685/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Stenness Primary School, Stenness
Received 19 Dec 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
All planning guides
Understanding planning · 13 min read
Planning permission drawings: how to read plans
Read planning drawings, floor plans, elevations and sections. Use labelled diagrams, a drawing comparison table and revision checks to understand a proposal.
UK researchPublished Updated
Property research · 13 min read
Planning approval rates: how to read council statistics
Understand planning approval rates with an interactive calculator, worked examples and comparison table. Check sample sizes, outcomes and coverage before comparing.
UK researchPublished Updated
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