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 dates11,515Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 9,640 approved or refused records
426Refused applications
9,214 approved · 426 refused · 546 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided08/260/PPF
Extend a house
Millhouse, Twatt, Orkney KW17 2JH
Received 15 May 2008 - Decided08/261/PPF
Renovate and convert mill to house
Firth Mill, Finstown,
Received 15 May 2008 - Decided08/262/LB
Re-slate roofs, replace windows and door; repoint stonework; alter internal layout to use as a house; and remove kiln and some gearing
Firth Mill, Finstown,
Received 15 May 2008 - Decided08/263/AD
Display signs
Unit 5, Hatston Industrial Estate, Kirkwall
Received 15 May 2008 - Decided08/264/AD
Two non-illuminated projecting signs and two sets of non-illuminated lettering
Clydesdale Bank, 3 Broad Street, Kirkwall
Received 15 May 2008 - Decided08/265/PPF
Extend a house
The Willows, Old Finstown Road, Finstown, Orkney, KW17 2EJ
Received 16 May 2008 - Decided08/266/PPF
Change of use of land from agriculture to brewery use and erect extensions
The Orkney Brewery, Quoyloo, Sandwick
Received 19 May 2008 - Decided08/267/AD
Display signs
Dounby Stores, Dounby
Received 19 May 2008 - Decided08/268/PPF
Erect house with integral garage and wind turbine generator
Near Elwickbank (Land Near), Shapinsay
Received 20 May 2008 - Decided08/269/PPF
Erect house with integral garage
Quoy Of Herston, South Ronaldsay
Received 20 May 2008 - Decided08/270/PPF
Installation of two 0.6m dishes onto existing tower, one of 0.6m dishes to replace existing
Burgar Hill, Evie
Received 21 May 2008 - Decided08/271/PPF
Extend a house
Bonni-Min, Cleaton, Westray, Orkney, KW17 2DD
Received 21 May 2008 - Decided08/272/PPO
Siting of houses
The Palace (Land Near), Birsay
Received 21 May 2008 - Decided08/273/VR
Erect a porch (amendment to application 07/390/PPF)
5 & 7 Matches Square, Kirkwall
Received 21 May 2008 - Decided08/274/APN
Erect GP shed
Mooness, Holm,
Received 22 May 2008 - Decided08/275/PPF
Ward and staff facility extensions
Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall
Received 22 May 2008 - Decided08/276/PPO
Siting of a replacement house
Tufta Cottage, Bimbister, Harray
Received 26 May 2008 - Decided08/277/PPF
Demolish existing porch and erect a sun room
Layburn, Rendall, Orkney, KW17 2HF
Received 26 May 2008 - Decided08/278/APN
Erect GP shed
Turnstones, Papa Westray, Orkney, KW17 2BU
Received 27 May 2008 - Decided08/279/PPF
Extend and refurbish
Northvet Veterinary Practice, 33 Junction Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1AR
Received 27 May 2008 - Decided08/280/PPF
Extend a house
Mayflower Cottage, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RE
Received 27 May 2008 - Decided08/281/PPO
Siting of a house
Petertown Road (Land Near), Orphir
Received 27 May 2008 - Decided08/282/PN
Installation of two 1.3m diameter dish antennas onto an existing lattice tower and installation of ancillary cabinet
Stronsay Radio Station, Stronsay
Received 29 May 2008 - Decided08/283/PPO
Siting of a house
Millhouse (Site 1) (Land Near), Lyness, Hoy
Received 29 May 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