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 dates11,425Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 9,556 approved or refused records
426Refused applications
9,130 approved · 426 refused · 540 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided07/686/PN
Install antenna, cabinet and meter cabinet
North Ronaldsay Radio Station, North Ronaldsay
Received 21 Dec 2007 - Decided07/687/PPF
Extend a house and re-roof existing property
Queenamuckle, Rendall KW17 2EZ
Received 21 Dec 2007 - Decided07/688/PPF
Extension to services building
Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall
Received 21 Dec 2007 - Decided07/689/PPF
Erect replacement house and detached garage
Ardale (land Formerly Known As), Bignold Park Road, Kirkwall
Received 21 Dec 2007 - Decided07/690/PPF
Refurbish, alter and extend existing dwellings and erect 2 new dwellings
Neuketineuks, 6 - 10 Wellington Street, Kirkwall
Received 24 Dec 2007 - Decided07/691/LB
Refurbish, alter and extend
Neuketineuks, 6 - 10 Wellington Street, Kirkwall
Received 24 Dec 2007 - Decided07/692/PPF
Extend a house and erect garage
Hillhead, Burray, KW17 2SU
Received 24 Dec 2007 - Decided07/693/MAR
Replace twelve 70m circumference cages with eight 90m circumference cages and install eight automatic feeders
Quanterness, Wide Firth
Received 24 Dec 2007 - Decided07/694/APN
Erect GP shed
Snelsetter, Longhope
Received 24 Dec 2007 - Decided08/001/PPO
Siting of replacement house
North Bigging, Dounby,
Received 3 Jan 2008 - Decided08/002/OIC
Servicing of 4 commercial sites including installation of foul and surface water drainage, pumping station and provision of site accesses
Hatston Pier, Grainshore Road, Kirkwall
Received 4 Jan 2008 - Decided08/003/PPF
Establish, operate and maintain 60m high anemometer mast for a period not exceeding 24 months
Melsetter Farm, Melsetter, Hoy
Received 4 Jan 2008 - Withdrawn/Returned08/004/PPF
Replacement of existing 12m flagpole with wind turbine generator (max. height 15m)
Stromness Golf Course, Stromness
Received 7 Jan 2008 - Decided08/005/PPR
Erect a house and detached garage
Banks (Site 1) (Land Near), Birsay
Received 10 Jan 2008 - Decided08/006/PPR
Erect a house and detached garage
Banks (Site 2) (Land Near), Birsay
Received 10 Jan 2008 - Decided08/007/PPR
Erect replacement house
Cavit, Wyre
Received 10 Jan 2008 - Decided08/008/PPF
Extend a house
Gricegarth, South Ronaldsay KW17 2RN
Received 10 Jan 2008 - Withdrawn/Returned08/009/APN
Erect GP shed
Georth Farm, Evie, KW17 2PJ
Received 10 Jan 2008 - Decided08/010/PPO
Siting of a house
The Braes (Land Near), Weyland Terrace, Kirkwall
Received 11 Jan 2008 - Decided08/011/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Hoy Outdoor Centre, Hoy
Received 14 Jan 2008 - Decided08/012/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Sandy Hill, South Ronaldsay
Received 14 Jan 2008 - Decided08/013/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Kalisgarth Care Home, Westray
Received 14 Jan 2008 - Decided08/014/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
Smiddybrae House, Dounby
Received 14 Jan 2008 - Decided08/015/PN
Erect 22cm diameter antenna
West Mainland Day Centre, Stenness
Received 14 Jan 2008
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