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
139Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 10,074 approved or refused records
434Refused applications
9,640 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided17/341/PN
Install 33KV underground cable associated with submarine cable Westray to Rousay
Benziecott (Land Near), Westray, Orkney, KW17 2DE
Received 25 Jul 2017 - Withdrawn/Returned17/342/PP
Erect 7 houses with air source heat pumps (including 4 with integral garage), install a communal septic tank and create accesses
Dalvenna (Land Near), Scapa Brae, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1SF
Received 25 Jul 2017 - Withdrawn/Returned17/343/MAR
Create salmon farming site comprising of 12 x 100m circumference circular cages arranged in a 2 x (2 x 3) formation with a 70m grid, with a 200t feed capacity automated feed barge
West Of Glimps Holm, Scapa Flow, Orkney
Received 25 Jul 2017 - Withdrawn/Returned17/344/LB
Install replacement windows and doors, re-roof, remodel existing outbuildings, partial demolition of outbuildings, and extend
Quoypettie, Deerness, Orkney
Received 25 Jul 2017 - Decided17/346/APN
Erect a GP shed
Langskaill, Rousay, Orkney
Received 26 Jul 2017 - Decided17/347/PP
Install a door
Former Printworks, Junction Road, Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 27 Jul 2017 - Decided17/348/PP
Erect a replacement house with integral garage, incorporating existing agricultural building and create an access
Little Quoy, Littlequoy Road, Burray, Orkney KW17 2SX
Received 28 Jul 2017 - Decided17/349/HH
Erect a shed
Eversley Cottage, Back Road, St Margarets Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2SP
Received 28 Jul 2017 - Decided17/352/PP
Replace slates and install six replacement roof lights.
Murray Arms, Back Road, St Margarets Hope, Orkney KW17 2SP
Received 2 Aug 2017 - Decided17/353/VR
Vary condition 01 of planning permission 15/303/PP to extend retention of temporary meteorological mast until 30 June 2018
Hesta Head (Land Near), South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Received 3 Aug 2017 - Decided17/354/VR
Vary condition 01 of planning permission 15/301/PP to extend retention of temporary meteorological mast until 30 June 2018
Costa Head (Land Near), Birsay, Orkney
Received 4 Aug 2017 - Decided17/355/TPN
Erect a wind turbine (max height 18m)
Scarrigar, Sanday, Orkney, KW17 2BA
Received 4 Aug 2017 - Withdrawn/Returned17/356/PP
Extend existing workshop and shop and convert part of outbuilding to create a flat, and extend a house
Craiglands, Skidge Road, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2ND
Received 4 Aug 2017 - Decided17/358/PP
Erect a replacement house with integral garage, install air source heat pump and create an access.
Blomuir (Plot 2), Holm, Orkney, KW17 2RY
Received 7 Aug 2017 - Decided17/359/HH
Extend a house
Kaledue, Holm Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1PY
Received 8 Aug 2017 - Decided17/360/APN
Erect a GP shed
Upper Scapa, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1SD
Received 9 Aug 2017 - Decided17/361/PP
Erect a shed and relocate access
North Hoy Water Treatment Works, Hoy, Orkney
Received 11 Aug 2017 - Decided17/362/HH
Extend a house
Orkahaugr, Quoynamoan, Stenness, Orkney KW16 3HH
Received 11 Aug 2017 - Decided17/363/LB
Extend and carry out alterations to pumping station, oil tank and Romney hut, and associated landscaping
Museum, Scapa Flow Visitor Centre, Hoy, Orkney, KW16 3NT
Received 11 Aug 2017 - Decided17/364/PP
Install high level canopies of lights suspended between buildings
Town Centre, (Various Locations), Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 11 Aug 2017 - Decided17/365/LB
Install high level canopies of lights suspended between buildings.
Kirkwall Hotel, Harbour Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1LE
Received 11 Aug 2017 - Decided17/366/LB
Install high level canopies of lights suspended between buildings
7 Bridge Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1HR
Received 11 Aug 2017 - Decided17/367/LB
Install high level canopies of lights suspended between buildings
2 Bridge Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1HR
Received 11 Aug 2017 - Decided17/368/LB
Install high level canopies of lights suspended between buildings
2 Laing Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NW
Received 11 Aug 2017
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