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9,639 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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: 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided15/114/EB
Relocate poles and install additional poles for existing power line
The Bu (Land Near), Burray, Orkney KW17 2SZ
Received 9 Mar 2015 - Decided15/115/PN
Install a telecommunications box
The Heritage Centre (Land Near), Pierowall, Westray, Orkney KW17 2BZ
Received 9 Mar 2015 - Decided15/116/PP
Install an air source heat pump (retrospective)
Corrieghoil, Sower Road, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RE
Received 11 Mar 2015 - Decided15/117/PP
Erect an agricultural building (amendment to approval of 14/319/PP)
Glenorkney, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1SX
Received 13 Mar 2015 - Decided15/118/PP
Install an air source heat pump
Voe, 5 Watson Park, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1WB
Received 13 Mar 2015 - Decided15/119/PP
Install an air source heat pump (retrospective), change of use of land from agricultural to domestic and extend a house
Biggings, Biggings Road, Holm, Orkney, KW17 2RX
Received 16 Mar 2015 - Decided15/120/PP
Construct concrete and stone faced flood wall, including fixed and demountable flood gates and section of metal railings, and associated street works
Kirkwall Waterfront (Hatston To Shore Street), Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 16 Mar 2015 - Decided15/121/PP
Install an air source heat pump
5A School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1JG
Received 16 Mar 2015 - Decided15/122/LB
Install an air source heat pump
5A School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1JG
Received 16 Mar 2015 - Decided15/123/PP
Erect a house with an air source heat pump and create an access
Brookfield (Plot 4) (Land Near), Rendall, Orkney KW17 2NZ
Received 16 Mar 2015 - Decided15/124/PP
Extend a house and erect a double garage
Swartland, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1SD
Received 17 Mar 2015 - Withdrawn/Returned15/125/EB
Install 4 x 7.5m high voltage poles
The Manse (Land Near), Knockhall Road, Stenness, Orkney, KW16 3HH
Received 16 Mar 2015 - Decided15/126/PP
Change of use from taxi office to hairdressing salon
Unit 1, 14A Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA
Received 17 Mar 2015 - Decided15/127/PP
Install a bench
Knitchen Hill (Land Near), Trumland Nature Reserve, Rousay, Orkney
Received 17 Mar 2015 - Decided15/129/PP
Install replacement door, add double glazing in existing sash and case windows and paint walls
25 St Catherine's Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HX
Received 18 Mar 2015 - Decided15/128/LB
Re-roof buildings and install rooflights
Burwick, South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Received 18 Mar 2015 - Decided15/130/LB
Install replacement door, add double glazing in existing sash and case windows and paint walls
25 St Catherine's Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HX
Received 18 Mar 2015 - Decided15/131/PP
Erect a house with an air source heat pump and create an access
Coplands Drive (Plot 40) (Land Near), Stromness, Orkney
Received 18 Mar 2015 - Decided15/132/TPP
Erect a 6kW wind turbine (max height 17.8m)
Clestrain (Land Near), Stronsay, Orkney, KW17 2AT
Received 18 Mar 2015 - Withdrawn/Returned15/133/TPP
Erect a 6kW wind turbine (max height 17.8m)
Whitehall Farm (Land Near), Whitehall Road, Stronsay, Orkney KW17 2AT
Received 18 Mar 2015 - Decided15/134/LB
Install replacement timber door with glazed panel
Highland Park Distillery, Holm Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1SU
Received 18 Mar 2015 - Decided15/135/PP
Install a telecommunications box
Telephone Exchange (Land Near), Back Road, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3AJ
Received 18 Mar 2015 - Decided15/136/PP
Install an air source heat pump (retrospective)
Hindigar, Berstane Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1SZ
Received 20 Mar 2015 - Decided15/137/PP
Repaint existing cabinet
54 & 56A Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HQ
Received 20 Mar 2015
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