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9,639 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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: 13 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided12/662/PN
Remove 4 existing poles and overhead line and installl 3 poles and an 11kV overhead line
Upper Berryhill (Land Near), St Ola, Orkney
Received 11 Sept 2012 - Decided12/663/TC
Pruning works to a semi-mature sycamore, and felling of two trees immediately adjacent to building
94 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3BS
Received 12 Sept 2012 - Decided12/664/PP
Install an air source heat pump
Weyland Drive (Plot 4) (Land Near), Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 12 Sept 2012 - Decided12/665/PP
Erect a single storey extension
Community Hall, Longhope, Hoy
Received 12 Sept 2012 - Decided12/666/PP
Install an air source heat pump
36 Grieveship Brae, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BG
Received 14 Sept 2012 - Decided12/667/AD
Display an internally illuminated sign
The Pickaquoy Centre, Muddisdale Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1LR
Received 14 Sept 2012 - Decided12/668/TPP
Erect a 6kW wind turbine (max height 18m)
Kenwood (Land Near), Harray, Orkney
Received 14 Sept 2012 - Decided12/669/PP
Install an air source heat pump
6 Burrian, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1XB
Received 17 Sept 2012 - Decided12/670/PP
Change of use from outbuilding to self catering unit
Pow, Outertown, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3JP
Received 17 Sept 2012 - Decided12/671/PP
Install an aerial to the rear of the building
Coastguard Rescue Station, Longhope, Hoy, Orkney
Received 17 Sept 2012 - Decided12/672/PP
Install an aerial to the rear of the building
Coastguard Rescue Station, Netherton Road, Stromness, Orkney
Received 17 Sept 2012 - Decided12/673/LB
Demolish chimney stack; remove corrugated sheeting and re-roof with Orkney slate; install skylights; and install replacement timber windows and door in porch
Hall Of Tankerness, Tankerness Hall Road, Tankerness, Orkney, KW17 2QS
Received 19 Sept 2012 - Decided12/674/TPN
Erect a 6kW wind turbine (max height 18m)
Quoys (Land Near), Woodstock Road, Holm, Orkney
Received 19 Sept 2012 - Decided12/675/PP
Siting of a mobile home as temporary accommodation
Rosehill Farm (Land Near), Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3HU
Received 21 Sept 2012 - Decided12/676/PN
Remove 2 existing poles and install 1 pole and 2 wire 11kv overhead conductors
Flaws (Land Near), Evie, Orkney
Received 21 Sept 2012 - Decided12/677/PP
Replace corrugated roof sheets with natural slates; install skylights; enlarge window opening to form a doorway; and demolish lean-to outbuilding
3 Bridge Street Wynd, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1JD
Received 24 Sept 2012 - Decided12/678/VR
Vary condition 1 of planning permission 07/499/PPF to erect a replacement house and detached garage
Caravan (Land Near), Stews, South Ronaldsay, Orkney KW17 2RL
Received 25 Sept 2012 - Decided12/679/TPP
Erect 2 x 5kW wind turbines (max height 17.8m) (To supersede planning permission 12/181/TPP)
Ronaldsvoe (Land Near), South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Received 27 Sept 2012 - Decided12/680/AD
Display a sign
The Worx, 27-29 Mounthoolie Lane, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1HL
Received 27 Sept 2012 - Withdrawn/Returned12/681/TPP
Erect a 11kW wind turbine (max height 20m)
Quoys (Land Near), Deerness, Orkney
Received 28 Sept 2012 - Decided12/682/APN
Erect a GP shed
Noneyha', Eday, Orkney KW17 2AA
Received 27 Sept 2012 - Decided12/683/TPP
Erect a 10kW wind turbine (max height 18.5m)
Lowerhouse (Land Near), Burray, Orkney
Received 27 Sept 2012 - Decided12/684/PP
Extend a house and install an air source heat pump
5 Earl Sigurd Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1QE
Received 27 Sept 2012 - Decided12/685/TPP
Erect a 5kW wind turbine (max height 18.2m)
Breckquoy (Land Near), Deerness, Orkney
Received 28 Sept 2012
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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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