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9,639 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided16/128/LB
Re-instate house including create two window openings and change window to door in North elevation, install two new doors in east elevation, reroof building, re-point stonework and finish with wet lime harling, cap top opening of former kiln with toughened glass, re-roof attached outbuilding with black corrugated steel roof sheeting and clear corrugated sheets, and install roof windows to south elevation.
South Hamar, Westray, Orkney
Received 17 Mar 2016 - Decided16/129/PP
Re-instate a house, change of use of outbuildings to domestic and re-roof, erect 2 sheds & siting of a temporary caravan.
South Hamar, Westray, Orkney
Received 17 Mar 2016 - Decided16/130/PP
Erect a replacement house with air source heat pump (amendment to 14/186/PP)
Brigafea, Tankerness, Orkney, KW17 2QR
Received 17 Mar 2016 - Decided16/132/PN
Install a cabinet and replace 3 antenna and erect 3 antenna
Ward Hill, South Ronaldsay
Received 17 Mar 2016 - Decided16/133/SCR
Screening opinion to erect 2 500kW turbine (max height 46.3m)
Doun Helzie, Sanday
Received 18 Mar 2016 - Decided16/134/LB
Change of use from store to livingroom, re-roof, install 2 roof windows and replace external doors.
Kirkhouse, Papa Westray, Orkney, KW17 2BU
Received 18 Mar 2016 - Decided16/135/HH
Extend a house
Vincoin, Vincoin Road, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2BG
Received 21 Mar 2016 - Decided16/136/PP
Erect a substation including communications mast and create hardstanding.
Ludenhill Farm (Land Near), Stoneymildars, Swannay, Orkney, KW17 2NR
Received 22 Mar 2016 - Decided16/138/MARSS
Screening and scoping request to alter an existing salmon fish farm
South Cava, Scapa Flow
Received 22 Mar 2016 - Decided16/139/PP
Erect a house with an integral garage and an air source heat pump (amendment to 15/139/PP)
Burnside (Plot 2) (Land Near), Harray, Orkney KW17 2JR
Received 23 Mar 2016 - Decided16/140/HH
Extend a house
Little Wards, Kings Road, Hoy, Orkney, KW16 3PA
Received 23 Mar 2016 - Decided16/142/PP
Erect a house with an integral garage with an air source heat pump and create a new access.
Strathearn (Land Near), Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RB
Received 24 Mar 2016 - Decided16/143/PP
Excavate lawn, form opening in boundary wall and railings, construct steps, paved hardstanding and stone benches and install a railing, LED lighting and flagpole, and landscaping
Town House (Land Near), 11 - 13 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA
Received 24 Mar 2016 - Decided16/144/LB
Form opening in boundary wall and railings and construct steps
Town House (Land Near), 11 - 13 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA
Received 24 Mar 2016 - Decided16/145/PP
Erect a shed (Class 6)
17 Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1DH
Received 30 Mar 2016 - Decided16/146/LB
Re-roof with new welsh slate (retrospective)
West End Hotel, 14 Main Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1BU
Received 29 Mar 2016 - Decided16/147/PP
Install an 18m lattice tower, erect a cabin and fencing.
Keelylang Hill, Firth
Received 29 Mar 2016 - Decided16/148/HH
Extend a house
Iona, 3 Scapa Crescent, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1RL
Received 29 Mar 2016 - Decided16/141/APN
Erect a GP shed
East Point (Land Near), Longhope, Orkney, KW16 3PQ
Received 29 Mar 2016 - Decided16/149/AMC
Demolish redundant agricultural buildings and erect a house with air source heating (following permission in principle - 13/163/PIP)
Grimestone Park (Land Near), Newark Road, Harray, Orkney
Received 30 Mar 2016 - Decided16/150/PP
Install 12 air source heat pumps.
The Meadows, Kirkwall
Received 31 Mar 2016 - Decided16/151/PP
Erect a bakery
9 Gill Pier (Land Near), Westray, Orkney
Received 31 Mar 2016 - Decided16/152/PP
Erect a slatted byre
Grutha (Land Near), Lowertown Road, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2TL
Received 1 Apr 2016 - Decided16/153/SCR
Screening opinion to erect 2 500kW turbine (max height 46.3m)
Skelbister, Orphir, Orkney
Received 31 Mar 2016
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