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9,644 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Withdrawn/Returned22/027/NMV/01
Reduce size of Sunroom and amend roof covering on garage
Castle Howe, Sower Road, Orphir, Orkney KW17 2RE
Received 18 Apr 2024 - Decided24/166/LB
Install top-hung replacement rooflights
Orkney Enterprise, 12 - 14 Queen Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1JE
Received 19 Apr 2024 - Decided24/167/HH
Install an air source heat pump (retrospective)
The Little House, Coplands Lane, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1JG
Received 22 Apr 2024 - Decided24/169/PP
Change of use from a flat to a self-catering unit
69B Junction Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1AX
Received 15 Apr 2024 - Decided24/168/REG62
Regulation 62 application to carry out development granted by a general development order, to remove redundant cable
Graemsay, Orkney
Received 9 Apr 2024 - Decided24/170/HH
Extend a house (re-roof garage)
Minard, Berstane Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1SZ
Received 22 Apr 2024 - Decided24/172/PP
Install a stone bench and table
Burnside Playpark, Flotta, Orkney, KW16 3NP
Received 24 Apr 2024 - Decided24/174/PP
Change of use from a flat to a self-catering unit (temporary for three years) (retrospective)
52 Dundas Street, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3DA
Received 24 Apr 2024 - Decided24/175/PP
Erect a house (one for one) with an air source heat pump, integral garage and upgrade an access
Housequoy (land Near) Stenness Orkney KW16 3JY
Received 24 Apr 2024 - Decided24/176/PP
Change of use from a self-catering unit to a flat
Old Evie Church (Eynhallow Apartment), Evie Village, Evie, Orkney KW17 2PH
Received 25 Apr 2024 - Decided24/177/PP
Change of use from a self-catering unit to a flat
Old Evie Church (Rousay Apartment), Evie Village, Evie, Orkney KW17 2PH
Received 25 Apr 2024 - Decided24/178/CLEUD
Regularise the use of a flat as a self-catering unit
The Lodge, Craigiefield House, Craigiefield Road, St Ola, Orkney KW15 1UJ
Received 25 Apr 2024 - Decided24/179/CLEUD
Regularise the use of a flat as a self-catering unit
The Steading, Craigiefield House, Craigiefield Road, St Ola, Orkney KW15 1UJ
Received 25 Apr 2024 - Decided24/180/HH
Install solar array on roof of existing shed
Aigen, 2 Manse Lane, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3BX
Received 26 Apr 2024 - Decided24/181/PP
Change of use from a hotel (Class 7) to a public house (ground floor) and create four self-catering units (upper floors) and extend to create a stairwell
St Ola Hotel, Harbour Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1LE
Received 29 Apr 2024 - Decided24/182/PP
Convert two flats to a house
Horrie Farm Holiday Apartments, Horrie Chalets, Garralanga Road, St Andrews, Orkney KW17 2QU
Received 29 Apr 2024 - Decided24/183/HH
Extend a house
Muckle Jocks, Herston Road, Herston, South Ronaldsay, Orkney KW17 2RH
Received 29 Apr 2024 - Decided24/184/CLEUD
Regularise the use of a flat as a self-catering unit
Wayward Apartment, Wayward, Upper Crantit Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1RW
Received 29 Apr 2024 - Unknown16/554/NMV/01
Amend window and door design
Merriman's Noust, Stromness, Orkney
Received 8 Apr 2024 - Unknown23/033/NMV/01
Amend roof finish from Welsh slate to Spanish slate
Cairnton, Orphir Village, Orphir, Orkney KW17 2RB
Received 29 Apr 2024 - Decided24/185/CLEUD
Regularise the use of two flats as two self-catering units
Cunningar And Flat Cunnigar, Upper Crantit Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1RW
Received 29 Apr 2024 - Decided24/186/CLEUD
Regularise the use of a building as a self-catering unit
Peedie Harrays, Sandwick, Orkney KW17 2JF
Received 29 Apr 2024 - Decided24/190/PP
Install top-hung replacement rooflights
Orkney Enterprise, 12 - 14 ,Queen Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1JE
Received 30 Apr 2024 - Decided24/191/PP
Erect a storage shed, install a freestanding solar array, and construct overspill car parking (part retrospective)
Sheila Fleet Jewellery, Gransetter Road, Tankerness, St Andrews, Orkney KW17 2QT
Received 30 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
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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