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
137Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 10,076 approved or refused records
434Refused applications
9,642 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided17/473/TC
Crown reduction of three trees
BBC Radio Orkney, Castle Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1DF
Received 31 Oct 2017 - Withdrawn/Returned17/474/PP
Re-roof, reduce chimney stack, paint walls, erect a store, convert door to window, and install replacement rainwater goods, fire escape, screen and an air source heat pump
16 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HP
Received 31 Oct 2017 - Decided17/475/HH
Extend a house
Parkhead, Weyland Terrace, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LS
Received 1 Nov 2017 - Decided17/476/MARSS
Screening and scoping request to create a salmon fish farm
Bay Of Holland, Stronsay, Orkney
Received 3 Nov 2017 - Decided17/477/MARSS
Screening and scoping request to create a salmon fish farm
Mill Bay, Stronsay, Orkney
Received 3 Nov 2017 - Decided17/478/HH
Install flagstones
Sunnyside, 12 South End, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DJ
Received 3 Nov 2017 - Decided17/479/PIP
Siting of a house
Mistra (Land Near), Evie, Orkney, KW17 2PJ
Received 7 Nov 2017 - Decided17/480/PP
Erect a house with an integral garage, install an air source heat pump and create an access
Kiama (Land Near), Berstane Road, Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 7 Nov 2017 - Decided17/481/PP
Reinstate and extend a house
The Burn, South Parish, South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Received 7 Nov 2017 - Decided17/482/PP
Erect a house with integral garage and an air source heat pump and create an access
15 Moar Drive, Watersfield, Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 7 Nov 2017 - Withdrawn/Returned17/483/PP
Construct a hydrogen generation compound, including switchgear, three containers, tank, walls and fencing, and parking
Howe (Land Near), Shapinsay, Orkney, KW17 2EA
Received 8 Nov 2017 - Decided17/484/APN
Erect a GP shed (polytunnel)
Burnhouse Farm, Burnhouse, Longhope, Orkney, KW16 3PA
Received 8 Nov 2017 - Decided17/485/PN
Install an antenna on radio tower with ancillary equipment and apparatus
Burgar Hill, Evie, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW17 2NJ
Received 9 Nov 2017 - Decided17/487/PP
Reinstate and extend a house and create an access
Pentland View, Sandwick Road, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2RJ
Received 10 Nov 2017 - Decided17/488/PP
Create a hard standing (retrospective)
South End Of Kirbister Loch, Orphir, Orkney
Received 9 Nov 2017 - Decided17/489/PP
Demolish ancillary buildings, rebuild section of boundary wall, extend a shop and amend shop front, erect 4 flats with raised open space and install 6 air source heat pumps
53-55 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HQ
Received 13 Nov 2017 - Decided17/490/HH
Extend a house
Lower Braes, Weyland Terrace, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LS
Received 13 Nov 2017 - Decided17/491/HH
Extend a house
Keldabrae, Rendall, Orkney, KW17 2NZ
Received 13 Nov 2017 - Decided17/492/PP
Erect a boat shed and create an access track from public parking area
South Walls And Brims Community Centre, Hoy, Orkney
Received 13 Nov 2017 - Decided17/493/PP
Erect an agricultural building
Muckle Hunclett, Hunclett Road, Holm, Orkney, KW17 2RZ
Received 15 Nov 2017 - Decided17/494/PP
Install replacement windows, doors, flat roof, rainwater goods and a bike rack.
Sandwick Community Hall, Sandwick, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3JE
Received 15 Nov 2017 - Decided17/495/AMC
Erect a replacement house with integral garage, install an air source heat pump, and create an access (following Planning in Principle 17/105/PIP)
Sunnyside (Land Near), Ness Road Harray Orkney Islands KW17 2JS
Received 15 Nov 2017 - Decided17/496/PP
Erect a replacement house (one for one) with integral garage, install an air source heat pump, create an access and reinstate former house as an outbuilding
Gallowhill (Land Near), Burray
Received 15 Nov 2017 - Decided17/497/PP
Install replacement doors and windows and install two air source heat pumps (part retrospective)
Tower Building, Junction Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1JY
Received 15 Nov 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
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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