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9,639 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Withdrawn/Returned13/072/TPP
Erect a 900kW wind turbine (max height 67m), erect a switchgear building, upgrade and extend access track and associated works
Rysa Lodge (Land Near), Lyness, Orkney
Received 14 Feb 2013 - Decided13/073/TPP
Amend planning permission 11/718/TPP to change turbine type from a 500kW wind turbine (max height 50m) to a 500kW wind turbine (max height 59.7m), install a control cabinet and construct access track
Newark (Land Near), Skelwick, Westray, Orkney
Received 14 Feb 2013 - Decided13/074/PP
Demolish existing garage, water tank and extension; erect replacement integral garage and extend house; clad walls of existing house with rendered insulated panels and install an air source heat pump
The Sciennes, Glaitness Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1BA
Received 15 Feb 2013 - Decided13/075/PP
Erect a conservatory
Ardconnel, Craigiefield Road, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1UJ
Received 15 Feb 2013 - Decided13/076/PP
Install an air source heat pump
William Wilson, Sparrowhawk Road, Hatston Industrial Estate, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1GE
Received 15 Feb 2013 - Decided13/077/PIP
Restore derelict house, siting of an additional house and upgrade access
Ladysmith (Land Near), Stenness, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3EZ
Received 18 Feb 2013 - Decided13/079/TPP
Erect a 80kW wind turbine (max height 34.9m), install a control cabinet and create access track and hardstanding
Scapa (Land Near), St Ola, Orkney
Received 22 Feb 2013 - Decided13/080/PP
Remove existing lobster ponds and refurbish building to include 4 workshop units and office space, replace roof with decra tile, re-harl, form openings to rear of building, create parking spaces and install septic tank
Lobster Ponds, Whitehall, Stronsay, Orkney
Received 22 Feb 2013 - Decided13/081/PN
Install a double transformer pole
Scapa (Land Near), St Ola, Orkney
Received 25 Feb 2013 - Decided13/082/PN
Install a 11Kv electricity pole and 11Kv overhead line
Sandyhill Radar Station (Land Near), South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Received 25 Feb 2013 - Decided13/083/PP
Re-roof with Welsh Slate; clad the existing stairwell with replacement timber boarding; install double-glazed units in existing windows; re-render street elevation and install replacement metal gates to courtyard
64 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BS
Received 26 Feb 2013 - Decided13/084/PIP
Demolish 2 agricultural buildings, convert 2 agricultural buildings, siting of 4 houses, and associated works.
Orquil (Land Near), Evie Village, Evie, Orkney
Received 27 Feb 2013 - Decided13/085/PP
Demolish existing stone building and extend a house to provide additional accommodation and space for ancillary sports massage therapy business
Blackhall, Kirbister Road, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3HU
Received 27 Feb 2013 - Decided13/086/PP
Demolish existing building, erect a house with integral double garage, erect a boat store and upgrade an access
Gyron (Land Near), Quoyloo, Sandwick, Orkney KW16 3LT
Received 27 Feb 2013 - Decided13/087/PP
Extend a house
4 Clouston Corner, Stenness, Orkney, KW16 3LB
Received 28 Feb 2013 - Decided13/088/PP
Extend a house
9B Coplands Drive, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BN
Received 4 Mar 2013 - Decided13/089/PP
Erect a house
Allendale (Land Near), Croyhouse Farm, Eday, Orkney, KW17 2AB
Received 4 Mar 2013 - Decided13/090/PIP
Demolish redundant agricultural buildings, siting of 5 houses, construct access road and associated works
Wilderness Farm (Land Near), Holm, Orkney
Received 4 Mar 2013 - Decided13/091/AD
Display non-illuminated bronze-effect logos; projecting hanging sign; ATM surround and four ancillary vinyl signs
1 Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HE
Received 5 Mar 2013 - Decided13/092/AMC
Demolish redundant house and erect a replacement house with integral garage - (following permission - 11/096/VR)
Quindry (Land Near), South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Received 5 Mar 2013 - Decided13/093/TPP
Erect a 5kW wind turbine (max height 15m)
Breck (Land Near), Stronsay, Orkney
Received 5 Mar 2013 - Decided13/094/APN
Erect a general purpose agricultural building
Fea (Land Near), Tankerness, Orkney
Received 6 Mar 2013 - Decided13/095/PP
Extend a house and install an air source heat pump
23 King Harald Kloss, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1FT
Received 6 Mar 2013 - Decided13/096/TPP
Erect a 5kW wind turbine (max height 15.1m)
Wart Farm (Land Near), Warthill Road, Holm, Orkney, KW17 2SD
Received 6 Mar 2013
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