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 dates11,981Searchable applications
138Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 10,078 approved or refused records
434Refused applications
9,644 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 24 Sept 1979 to 5 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 16 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided24/139/PP
Install a roof-mounted solar array
James Wilson (Orkney) Ltd, Store G9, Garson Road, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AF
Received 27 Mar 2024 - Decided24/140/PP
Change of use of domestic outbuilding to light industrial unit (coffee bean roasting and production, Class 4)
Fidgarth, Fidgarth Road, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2LR
Received 28 Mar 2024 - Decided24/141/PN
Install two poles, dismantle section of overhead line, and install high voltage underground cable
Stymilders (Land Near), Stymilders Road, Stenness
Received 19 Mar 2024 - Decided24/142/PP
Change of use from retail (Class 1A) to mixed use retail and customer experiences (Class 1A and 10)
Highland Park, 58 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HQ
Received 28 Mar 2024 - Decided24/143/VR
Vary condition 04 (existing buildings) of planning permission 22/157/PP, to allow commencement
Downatown, Twatt, Orkney
Received 28 Mar 2024 - Decided24/144/HH
Erect a domestic garage
Cogar, Auster Road, Orphir Village, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RB
Received 29 Mar 2024 - Unknown24/145/PN
Install three antennas, three dishes, and ancillary equipment
Corse Farm Old Scapa Road Kirkwall Orkney Islands KW15 1RZ
Received 28 Mar 2024 - Decided24/147/PP
Demolish cottages and erect four terraced houses with air source heat pumps and create accesses
Balfour Cottage, Sandyhill Road, Shapinsay, Orkney KW17 2DY
Received 1 Apr 2024 - Decided24/148/PP
Erect a replacement house with an integral garage and air source heat pump (one for one)
The Chalet, Fiddlerhouse, Sandwick, Orkney, KW16 3JF
Received 3 Apr 2024 - Unknown24/149/APN
Erect a GP shed
Westbanks, Westbanks, Stenness, Orkney KW16 3LA
Received 3 Apr 2024 - Unknown24/150/APN
Erect a workshop, store and greenhouse for agricultural purposes
Bewan, Lighthouse Road, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2BG
Received 4 Apr 2024 - Decided24/151/PP
Erect a self-catering unit (shepherds hut)
Seaview, North Halley Road, Deerness, Orkney KW17 2QL
Received 4 Apr 2024 - Decided21/069/NMV/01
Alter roof form in various locations, including increase in ridge height, amend/add four windows, add two grilles, install three triangular roof vents, and increase length and height of tank and plant building
Corse West (Land Near), Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 27 Mar 2024 - Unknown23/016/NMV/01
Amend drinking water point of toilet block (and internal alterations), and amend radius of access junction
Market Green, Hillside Road, Dounby, Orkney, KW17 2HT
Received 5 Apr 2024 - Decided24/153/PP
Erect a polycarbonate polytunnel (retrospective)
Eday Heritage And Visitor Centre, Eday, Orkney KW17 2AB
Received 5 Apr 2024 - Unknown24/154/APN
Erect a GP shed
Quanterness Farm, St Ola, Orkney KW15 1TY
Received 8 Apr 2024 - Decided24/156/PP
Erect a house with an air source heat pump
1 Lynnside, Lynn Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1SR
Received 10 Apr 2024 - Withdrawn/Returned24/158/HH
Erect a domestic outbuilding (summerhouse)
Roshaven, Evie, Orkney KW17 2NJ
Received 12 Apr 2024 - Decided24/159/AD
Display a projecting sign
3 Junction Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1LB
Received 15 Apr 2024 - Decided24/160/PPMAJ
Erect 66 houses and flats with air source heat pumps, create an access, construct a road, surface water drainage basin, and associated services, infrastructure and landscaping
New Scapa Road (Land Near) (K-9), Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 15 Apr 2024 - Decided24/161/PP
Change of use from a flat to a self-catering unit (retrospective)
2 St Magnus Lane, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1DJ
Received 15 Apr 2024 - Decided24/162/PP
Temporary change of use for storage of soil (retrospective)
Weyland Farm, Work Road, St Ola, Orkney
Received 17 Apr 2024 - Decided24/163/PP
Extend a shed and install windows and doors
Orkney Motors, Grainshore Road, St Ola, Orkney KW15 1FL
Received 17 Apr 2024 - Decided24/165/PN
Install three antennas, three RRHs, one GPS, three cabinets, cable management and ancillary equipment
Crows Nest, Rackwick, Hoy, Orkney KW16 3NJ
Received 5 Apr 2024
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