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
139Recorded as pending
96%Approval rate · 10,077 approved or refused records
434Refused applications
9,643 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 24 Sept 1979 to 5 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 15 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided19/420/APN
Erect a GP shed
Sebay Farm, St Andrews, Orkney, KW17 2QU
Received 11 Dec 2019 - Decided19/421/PP
Change of use from agricultural shed to a pet crematorium and associated parking
Oback, Oback Road, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2RH
Received 12 Dec 2019 - Decided19/422/PP
Extend a hotel
Standing Stones Hotel, Stenness, Orkney, KW16 3JX
Received 12 Dec 2019 - Decided19/423/PP
Install replacement doors
40 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HQ
Received 17 Dec 2019 - Decided19/424/HH
Erect a garage
Aquarius, Hatston Park, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1TZ
Received 17 Dec 2019 - Withdrawn/Returned19/425/LB
Alterations to floor structure
Custom House, 33 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HL
Received 18 Dec 2019 - Unknown19/331/NMV/01
Proposed alteration of extension external cladding arrangement and colour
Dounby Primary School, Dounby, Sandwick, Orkney KW17 2JA
Received 13 Dec 2019 - Decided19/426/HH
Extend a house and install an air source heat pump
Stairwaddy Croft, Quholm Road, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3HT
Received 18 Dec 2019 - Unknown18/287/NMV/01
Reposition site entrance and location of sewage treatment plant and associated reed bed
Rosemount, Holland Road, Holm, Orkney
Received 17 Dec 2019 - Decided19/427/HH
Extend a house (amendment to 09/119/PPF) (retrospective)
Moclett, Pier Road, Papa Westray, Orkney, KW17 2BU
Received 13 Dec 2019 - Unknown19/115/NMV/01
Relocate rear door and remove window on North East elevation, install a window on South West elevation and relocate garage door.
Harrowdale Stronsay Orkney Islands KW17 2AF
Received 16 Dec 2019 - Decided19/428/LB
Install replacement windows and double-glazed units
41 Graham Place, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BY
Received 17 Dec 2019 - Unknown19/429/SCO
Scoping opinion request to erect 8 x 5MW wind turbines (maximum height 180m)
Nevan Head (Land Near), Eday, Orkney
Received 18 Dec 2019 - Decided19/430/HH
Extend a house
Cruanbreck, Rendall, Orkney, KW17 2NY
Received 18 Dec 2019 - Withdrawn/Returned19/431/HH
Extend a house and alter access track
Lyradale, Nistaben Road, Harray, Orkney, KW17 2LE
Received 19 Dec 2019 - Decided19/433/PP
Install replacement windows, and works to courtyard and entrance (resubmission of 19/301/PP)
The Charles Clouston Building, Orkney Research And Innovation Campus, Back Road, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AW
Received 20 Dec 2019 - Decided19/434/PP
Erect two camping pods and associated parking
Carlynya, Back Road, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DU
Received 23 Dec 2019 - Decided19/435/HH
Paint doors, install replacement windows and roof lights, construct staircase, relocate rear door, and install an air source heat pump
13 South End, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DJ
Received 31 Dec 2019 - Decided20/001/APN
Erect a GP shed
Lochside, Swartmill Road, Westray, Orkney, KW17 2DD
Received 7 Jan 2020 - Decided20/002/PIP
Siting of two houses (2 for 1) and create two accesses
Midhouse (Land Near), Mirbister, Harray, Orkney, KW17 2HZ
Received 7 Jan 2020 - Withdrawn/Returned20/004/LB
Alter steps and paving at west entrance
St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 7 Jan 2020 - Decided20/005/PP
Erect an agricultural shed
West Brough, Sanday, Orkney, KW17 2AY
Received 8 Jan 2020 - Unknown19/199/NMV/01
Alter orientation of house and move house in slighty from the West boundary
Westheath Stratheast Road Holm Orkney Islands KW17 2SA
Received 8 Jan 2020 - Decided20/006/LB
Install replacement internal lobby doors (retrospective)
Kirkwall Hotel, Harbour Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LE
Received 10 Jan 2020
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