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9,639 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided14/034/PP
Change of use from a house in multiple occupation to hotel annexe and change door to window
16 Shore Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LG
Received 22 Jan 2014 - Decided14/035/LB
Change external door to fixed window, form opening in wall to adjoining building and internal alterations
16 Shore Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LG
Received 22 Jan 2014 - Decided14/036/PP
Install an air source heat pump
Kameholm, Outertown Road, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3JN
Received 22 Jan 2014 - Decided14/037/APN
Erect a GP shed
Wart Bungalow, Warthill Road, Holm, Orkney, KW17 2SD
Received 22 Jan 2014 - Decided14/038/VR
Remove condition 4 of outline planning permission 06/506/PPO that limits occupation of the house to the persons working in the neighbouring farm
Towerhill (Land Near), St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1SR
Received 22 Jan 2014 - Decided14/039/LB
Replace roof covering with Welsh slates, install replacement windows, paint walls and minor internal works
The Haven, 2 Alfred Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DF
Received 14 Jan 2014 - Decided14/040/PP
Extend a house, install an air source heat pump and create an access
Kitticks, Rendall, Orkney, KW17 2PB
Received 23 Jan 2014 - Decided14/041/TPP
Erect a 5kW wind turbine (max height 17.8m)
Leary (Land Near), Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2ND
Received 23 Jan 2014 - Withdrawn/Returned14/043/PP
Erect a replacement house with integral garage, install ground source heat pump and upgrade access
Netherbigging (Land Near), Stenness, Orkney, KW16 3JX
Received 27 Jan 2014 - Decided14/044/PP
Install an air source heat pump (retrospective)
Old Schoolhouse, Toab, Orkney, KW17 2QG
Received 27 Jan 2014 - Decided14/045/PP
Demolish existing house and part of outbuilding and erect a replacement house
Gaird, Broughton Road, Westray, Orkney, KW17 2DA
Received 27 Jan 2014 - Decided14/046/TPP
Erect a 5kW wind turbine (max height 17.8m)
The White House (Land Near), Cottiscarth Road, Rendall, Orkney, KW17 2PA
Received 27 Jan 2014 - Decided14/047/PP
Erect a hut (wigwam) to be used as a residential unit
Longbigging (Land Near), Westray, Orkney
Received 28 Jan 2014 - Decided14/048/PP
Erect a replacement house with integral garage and air source heat pump, erect a shed and create an access
Stonehall (Land Near), Grimbister, Firth, Orkney, KW15 1TT
Received 28 Jan 2014 - Decided14/049/LB
Replace fascia; paint shop windows, door, fascia and render
113 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BU
Received 29 Jan 2014 - Decided14/050/AD
Display a sign
63 John Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AD
Received 29 Jan 2014 - Decided14/051/PP
Demolish existing byre and erect a GP shed
Rossmyre Farm, Grimbister, Firth, Orkney, KW15 1TS
Received 29 Jan 2014 - Decided14/052/VR
Vary condition 1 of planning permission in principle 11/095/PIP to extend consent for the siting of a replacement house
Lower Bu (Land Near), Warthill Road, Holm, Orkney, KW17 2SD
Received 29 Jan 2014 - Decided14/053/LB
Demolish attached garage and erect two storey extension with slate roof
20 Graham Place, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BY
Received 30 Jan 2014 - Decided14/054/APN
Erect a GP shed
Kingsdale, Old Finstown Road, Firth, Orkney, KW15 1TT
Received 29 Jan 2014 - Decided14/055/PP
Demolish garage and extend a house
20 Graham Place, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BY
Received 31 Jan 2014 - Decided14/056/PP
Erect a house with air source heat pump, erect a detached garage and create an access
Esgar (Plot A) (Land Near), Hillside Road, Dounby, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2HX
Received 31 Jan 2014 - Decided14/057/PP
Erect a house with integral garage, install an air source heat pump and create an access
Esgar (Plot C) (Land Near), Hillside Road, Dounby, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2HX
Received 31 Jan 2014 - Decided14/058/PP
Demolish two apartments, reinstate ground and external works to remaining apartment and house
2 & 3 Station Houses, Cairston Road, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3JS
Received 3 Feb 2014
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
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Read planning drawings, floor plans, elevations and sections. Use labelled diagrams, a drawing comparison table and revision checks to understand a proposal.
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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.
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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