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 dates11,978Searchable applications
140Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 10,073 approved or refused records
434Refused applications
9,639 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 24 Sept 1979 to 5 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 14 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided16/309/LB
Erect side extension with rendered walls, erect rear extension with metal cladding and parapet wall, replace glazing in existing side extensions, paint windows and rendered walls, reinstate metal rainwater goods, minor internal alterations, display signage, and install air source heat pumps
Former Library, Kirkwall
Received 13 Jul 2016 - Decided16/310/PP
Change of use of part of agricultural shed to scaffolding business (retrospective).
Harfirlea (Land Near), Corston Road, Harray, Orkney, KW17 2LQ
Received 13 Jul 2016 - Decided16/311/LB
Install four manholes and associated pipework
Double Houses Pier And Walkway, Stromness
Received 13 Jul 2016 - Decided16/312/PP
Install gabion baskets.
Bu Point Wastewater Treatment Works, Stromness, Orkney
Received 13 Jul 2016 - Decided16/313/HH
Build a conservatory & re-roof garage with a room above
Elvingston, Holm Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1RT
Received 13 Jul 2016 - Decided16/314/HH
Extend a house (amendment to 14/055/PP)
20 Graham Place, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BY
Received 13 Jul 2016 - Decided16/315/LB
Extend a house (amendment to 14/053/LB)
20 Graham Place, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BY
Received 13 Jul 2016 - Decided16/316/WL
Construct a vehicle layby including sea wall and erect a kiosk.
Well Park, Stromness
Received 14 Jul 2016 - Withdrawn/Returned16/317/PP
Erect a control kiosk.
Merriman's Noust, Stromness
Received 14 Jul 2016 - Decided16/318/HH
Install three air source heat pumps.
Eastward House, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2RN
Received 15 Jul 2016 - Decided16/319/HH
Extend a house (amendment to 15/337/PP)
Newfield, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RE
Received 15 Jul 2016 - Decided16/320/PN
Remove 4 antennas, install 3 antennas, 3 remote radio units, 2 dishes and ancillary apparatus.
Warsetter (Land Near), Sanday, Orkney, KW17 2BA
Received 15 Jul 2016 - Decided16/321/PP
Extend a shop
Lidl, Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1RP
Received 20 Jul 2016 - Decided16/322/AD
Display Signage
Lidl, Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1RP
Received 20 Jul 2016 - Decided16/323/HH
Install air source heat pump (retrospective).
19A Dundas Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BZ
Received 21 Jul 2016 - Withdrawn/Returned16/324/PP
Replace roof tiles, install wall insulation and new windows.
Stronsay Junior High School, Stronsay, Orkney, KW17 2AE
Received 21 Jul 2016 - Decided16/325/PIP
Siting of 2 houses (two x One for One)
Waulkmill Lodge, Orphir, Orkney KW17 2RA
Received 22 Jul 2016 - Decided16/327/HH
Extend a house
Clairlea, Tankerness, Orkney, KW17 2QR
Received 22 Jul 2016 - Decided16/329/LB
Install an air source heat pump (retrospective)
19A Dundas Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BZ
Received 26 Jul 2016 - Decided16/330/PP
Change of use from agriculture to visitor centre, gallery and hostel, erect sleeping pods, and associated parking and landscaping
Parkhall, Strathore Road, Shapinsay, Orkney, KW17 2DZ
Received 26 Jul 2016 - Decided16/331/LB
Replace timber floor, partitions and internal linings (retrospective).
11A East Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HZ
Received 26 Jul 2016 - Decided16/332/PP
Erect a house with integral garage and an air source heat pump.
Rognvaldsey, Finstown, Firth, Orkney, KW17 2EL
Received 27 Jul 2016 - Decided16/333/PP
Change of use from agriculture to campsite including welfare facilities, and gallery (retrospective), erect two chalets with air source heat pumps, and associated landscaping
Wheems, Kirkhouse Road, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2TJ
Received 28 Jul 2016 - Decided16/334/PIP
Siting of a house.
Inkerman (Land Near), Shapinsay, Orkney, KW17 2EB
Received 28 Jul 2016
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