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 dates11,977Searchable applications
139Recorded 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9,639 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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: 12 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided11/564/SCR
Screening opinion request to erect a wind turbine (max. height 27.2m)
Huan (Land Near), Sandwick, Orkney, KW16 3LS
Received 7 Oct 2011 - Decided11/566/TPP
Erect a wind turbine (max. height 18.2m)
7 Links (Land Near), Rackwick Road, Westray, Orkney, KW17 2DN
Received 11 Oct 2011 - Decided11/565/AMC
Erect a replacement house with an integral garage
South Breck (Land Near), Firth, Orkney
Received 11 Oct 2011 - Withdrawn/Returned11/567/TPP
Erect 2 wind turbines (max. height 67m)
Holodyke (Land Near), Dounby, Orkney
Received 11 Oct 2011 - Decided11/568/TPP
Erect a wind turbine (max. height 47m)
New Holland (Land Near), Stratheast Road, Holm, Orkney, KW17 2SA
Received 11 Oct 2011 - Decided11/569/LB
Remove and replace existing heating system, including boiler and radiators, and remove and replace existing kitchen and bathroom fittings
1 Suleskerry Shore Station, 15 Ness Road, Stromness, Orkney , KW16 3DL
Received 11 Oct 2011 - Decided11/570/PP
Extend slatted building with calf creep
Meadow View, Westfield Farm, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3HU
Received 12 Oct 2011 - Decided11/571/TPP
Erect a wind turbine (max. height 17.8m)
Hall Of Herston (Land Near) South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2RH
Received 12 Oct 2011 - Decided11/572/TPP
Erect a wind turbine (max. height 18m)
Kirkhouse (Land Near), South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2RH
Received 12 Oct 2011 - Decided11/573/PP
Erect a workshop
Crowness Crescent (Site H26) (Land Near) Hatston Industrial Estate Kirkwall
Received 12 Oct 2011 - Decided11/574/TPP
Erect 2 wind turbines (max. height 17.8m)
The Knowe (Land Near), Deerness, Orkney, KW17 2QL
Received 12 Oct 2011 - Decided11/575/PP
Demolish existing garage and erect garage with accommodation above
Inch Garvie, 12 Reid Crescent, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1UD
Received 13 Oct 2011 - Decided11/576/PP
Erect a house (with integral 'granny annexe') to replace existing derelict houses, renovate and extend existing byres and siting of a caravan for a temporary period of 3 years
Wigleywoo, Sourin Road, Rousay, Orkney, KW17 2PR
Received 13 Oct 2011 - Decided11/577/TPP
Erect a wind turbine (max height 19.1m)
Holland (Land Near) St. Ola Orkney KW15 1TB
Received 18 Oct 2011 - Decided11/578/TPP
Erect a wind turbine (max height 15m)
Braeside (Land Near) Sanday Orkney KW17 2BP
Received 18 Oct 2011 - Decided11/579/PP
Install an air source heat pump and replace windows
Old School, Hoy, Orkney, KW16 3NX
Received 18 Oct 2011 - Decided11/580/TPP
Erect a wind turbine (max height 15m)
Hillhead (Land Near) Sellibister Road Sanday Orkney KW17 2BP
Received 18 Oct 2011 - Decided11/581/PP
Demolish existing rendered-in caravan and build new room into existing building
Aith View Brims Road Hoy Stromness Orkney KW16 3NZ
Received 18 Oct 2011 - Decided11/583/TPP
Erect a wind turbine (max height 18.2m)
Horsick (Land Near), Toab, Orkney KW17 1QU
Received 19 Oct 2011 - Decided11/584/PN
Install a 0.8m dish on existing 30m lattice tower
SSE Sanday Radio Tower, Sanday, Orkney KW17 2BA
Received 20 Oct 2011 - Decided11/585/TPP
Amend Planning Permission 10/449/PP to change turbine type (max height 18.2m)
North Unigarth (Land Near), Quoyloo, Sandwick, Orkney KW16 3LT
Received 21 Oct 2011 - Decided11/586/TPP
Erect a wind turbine (max height 39m)
Banks (Land Near), Sourin, Rousay, Orkney
Received 21 Oct 2011 - Decided11/587/PP
Erect a detached garage
Negril, Carness Road, St Ola, Orkney KW15 1UE
Received 21 Oct 2011 - Decided11/588/PP
Install an air source heat pump
East Cott Orphir Orkney KW17 2RA
Received 21 Oct 2011
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