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9,639 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided16/383/PP
Install a 15m lattice tower, erect 3 cabinets, 1 Satellite dish, erect a fence and create hardstanding.
Newark Farm (Land Near), Sanday, Orkney, KW17 2BP
Received 16 Aug 2016 - Decided16/384/PP
Erect a house.
The Northfield, Burray, Orkney, KW17 2SY
Received 16 Aug 2016 - Decided16/385/PP
Erect a house with air source heat pump.
Plot 15, Grainbank, Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 18 Aug 2016 - Decided16/386/PP
Install a generator and a fuel tank.
Bruna Lea Hill, Stromness
Received 19 Aug 2016 - Decided16/387/PP
Install a generator and a fuel tank
Milldoe Radio Station, Rendall
Received 22 Aug 2016 - Decided16/389/PIP
Siting of a house.
Shoeha' (Land Near), Eday, Orkney, KW17 2AB
Received 22 Aug 2016 - Decided16/390/PIP
Siting of two replacement houses.
Bishops (Land Near), Deerness, Orkney, KW17 2QL
Received 19 Aug 2016 - Decided16/391/PN
Install a generator and a fuel tank
Burgar Hill, Evie
Received 19 Aug 2016 - Decided16/392/PN
Install a generator and a fuel tank
Telecommunications Site, North Ronaldsay
Received 19 Aug 2016 - Decided16/393/PN
Install a generator and a fuel tank
Gallowhill, Westray
Received 19 Aug 2016 - Decided16/394/HH
Extend a house.
Faulds, Bu Road, Burray, Orkney, KW17 2SZ
Received 22 Aug 2016 - Decided16/395/HH
Extend a house.
Ellibister Cottage, Rendall, Orkney, KW17 2NZ
Received 22 Aug 2016 - Decided16/396/HH
Extend a house.
Fjogstad House, Sandwick, Orkney, KW16 3HZ
Received 22 Aug 2016 - Decided16/397/APN
Erect a GP shed.
Stratheast (Land Near), Holm, Orkney, KW17 2SA
Received 23 Aug 2016 - Decided16/398/PP
Convert existing store at the rear of shop into a caf� and install an air source heat pump.
W I Rendall Shop, Westray, Orkney, KW17 2DH
Received 23 Aug 2016 - Decided16/399/SCR
Screening opinion to install a pipeline.
Flotta Oil Terminal, Flotta, Orkney, KW16 3NP
Received 24 Aug 2016 - Decided16/400/HH
Erect a fence (retrospective).
Daisybank, Berstane Road, Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 24 Aug 2016 - Decided16/401/HH
Remove chimney, alter roof, replace window and door, convert door to window, install replacement rainwater goods and install rooflights
5 Main Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1BU
Received 24 Aug 2016 - Decided16/402/LB
Install a rooflight, repaint windows and replace front door.
44 Alfred Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DF
Received 25 Aug 2016 - Decided16/403/PP
Erect a replacement house with domestic shed.
Muckle Twinness (Land Near), St Andrews, Orkney, KW17 2QT
Received 25 Aug 2016 - Decided16/404/PP
Erect a house with an air source heat pump.
Hallbreck (Land Near), Rendall, Orkney
Received 26 Aug 2016 - Decided16/405/HH
Extend a boat shed.
Eastbrae House, Eastbrae, Orkney, KW16 3HS
Received 26 Aug 2016 - Decided16/406/HH
Extend a house and install an air source heat pump.
Pipersquoy Cottage, Pipersquoy Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1BN
Received 26 Aug 2016 - Decided16/407/WL
Install an inlet pipe.
Flotta Oil Terminal, Flotta, Orkney, KW16 3NP
Received 29 Aug 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
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.
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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.
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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