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
137Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 10,076 approved or refused records
434Refused applications
9,642 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Withdrawn/Returned18/486/TPN
Erect 5kw wind turbine (maximum height 18m)
Hakirk, St Margarets Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW172TG
Received 15 Nov 2018 - Decided18/487/PN
Install a telecommunications cabinet
The Sheiling, Evie, Orkney, KW17 2PE
Received 15 Nov 2018 - Decided18/488/PP
Convert door to window, and window to door
22 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA
Received 19 Nov 2018 - Decided18/489/PP
Erect a house with air source heat pump, create an access and erect an agricultural shed
Knowe Of Burrian, Rousay, Orkney, KW17 2PT
Received 19 Nov 2018 - Decided18/490/PP
Erect a house with an air source heat pump and detached outbuilding (amendment to 18/336/PP)
Mistra (Land Near), Evie, Orkney
Received 19 Nov 2018 - Decided18/491/HH
Extend a house
Nordene, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1SX
Received 19 Nov 2018 - Decided18/492/PN
Install communications apparatus
Milldoe Radio Station, Milldoe, Orkney, KW17 2PA
Received 20 Nov 2018 - Decided18/493/HH
Extend a house, install a heat pump and relocate septic tank
Brettobreck, Lyking Road, Rendall, Orkney, KW17 2HA
Received 21 Nov 2018 - Decided18/495/PP
Erect a slatted byre
Caperhouse, Netherbrough Road, Harray, Orkney, KW17 2LE
Received 23 Nov 2018 - Decided18/496/APN
Erect a GP shed
Button-ben, Button Road, Stenness, Orkney, KW16 3HA
Received 23 Nov 2018 - Decided18/497/MARCON
Deploy scientific instrument
Switha, Orkney
Received 26 Nov 2018 - Decided18/498/PN
Install 6 antennas, 2 dishes, cabinet and ancillary apparatus
Kirkwall BT Telephone Exchange, Brandyquoy, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1QW
Received 26 Nov 2018 - Withdrawn/Returned18/499/PP
Install a communications box
School House (Land Near), Stenness, Stromness, KW16 3LB
Received 26 Nov 2018 - Decided18/500/HH
Replace 2 garage doors (retrospective)
47 Dundas Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DA
Received 28 Nov 2018 - Decided18/501/AD
Display facia signage and paint graphic on gable
58 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HQ
Received 29 Nov 2018 - Decided18/502/PP
Paint shop front and external walls, and install gate.
58 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HQ
Received 29 Nov 2018 - Decided18/503/HH
Demolish porch, extend a house with a flat roof extension, enlarge window opening, form new openings and relocate downpipe
10 Alfred Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DF
Received 29 Nov 2018 - Decided18/504/LB
Demolish porch, extend a house with a flat roof extension, enlarge window opening, form new openings, relocate downpipe, and internal alterations
10 Alfred Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DF
Received 29 Nov 2018 - Decided18/505/HH
Extend a house
Wateringhouse, Hoy, Orkney, KW16 3PG
Received 30 Nov 2018 - Decided18/506/HH
Extend a house
Bigging, Beaquoy Road, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2HY
Received 30 Nov 2018 - Decided18/507/PIP
Siting of a house (subdivision of curtilage)
Myrtledene, Skiddy Road, Rendall, Orkney, KW17 2HF
Received 30 Nov 2018 - Decided18/508/PP
Erect 28 houses with air source heat pumps, associated services and infrastructure, and a drainage detention basin
MacLeod Drive (Land Near), Grainbank, Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 30 Nov 2018 - Withdrawn/Returned18/509/PP
Erect a house with an integral garage and an air source heat pump
Repeater Road (Plot 5), Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1ZP
Received 3 Dec 2018 - Decided18/510/HH
Extend a house
Ardmohr, Burray, Orkney, KW17 2SS
Received 3 Dec 2018
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