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9,643 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided20/056/TC
Prune a sycamore and ash
Laurel Bank, Cromwell Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LH
Received 12 Feb 2020 - Decided20/057/TC
Prune previously pollarded semi-mature sycamore
Bellevue, George Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1PP
Received 12 Feb 2020 - Decided20/058/TC
Crown reduction and pruning of previously pollarded semi-mature elm
25 Alfred Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DF
Received 12 Feb 2020 - Decided20/059/LB
Install replacement external lights
56 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HQ
Received 13 Feb 2020 - Decided20/060/PP
Erect a house with an air source heat pump, and polytunnel and create an access
Brekkaby (Land To The West Of), Rousay, Orkney
Received 13 Feb 2020 - Decided20/061/PP
Erect a replacement house (one for one) with an air source heat pump
Burnside, Garth, Stromness, Orkney
Received 13 Feb 2020 - Decided20/062/PP
Change of use of land from vehicle storage to domestic and erect a domestic garage
Stoorie, Scapa Brae, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1SF
Received 14 Feb 2020 - Decided20/063/PP
Change of use of part of dwelling to craft and training centre (class 10) (resubmission of 19/064/PP)
Shalom, Lyde Road, Harray, Orkney, KW17 2LA
Received 14 Feb 2020 - Decided20/064/PP
Erect an agricultural shed
Easthouse, Tankerness, Orkney
Received 14 Feb 2020 - Decided20/065/PP
Install a temporary office building (five years) (retrospective)
Pier Office, Pier Road, St Margarets Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2SW
Received 14 Feb 2020 - Decided20/066/PP
Erect a replacement house (one for one) with an air source heat pump, integral garage, and detached garage
Taravil, Firth, Orkney
Received 17 Feb 2020 - Decided20/067/PP
Extend a school (resubmission of 19/381/PP)
Glaitness Primary School, Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1RP
Received 17 Feb 2020 - Decided20/069/PP
Erect two agricultural sheds and extend access track
Mossclair, Tankerness, Orkney
Received 17 Feb 2020 - Decided20/070/PP
Erect a house with an air source heat pump and create an access (resubmission of 19/316/PP)
Brekkaby (Land To The East Of), Rousay, Orkney, KW17 2PU
Received 18 Feb 2020 - Decided20/071/HH
Install replacement windows, rooflights, rear roof covering and an air source heat pump, block a doorway and form a doorway
14 Alfred Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DF
Received 18 Feb 2020 - Decided20/072/LB
Install replacement windows, rooflights, rear roof covering and an air source heat pump, block a doorway and form a doorway and internal alterations
14 Alfred Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DF
Received 18 Feb 2020 - Unknown19/340/NMV/01
Install rayburn/flue, confirmation of roof coverings, change and enlarge living window
Quoyloo Cottage Bristol Road Sandwick Orkney Islands KW16 3LY
Received 17 Feb 2020 - Decided20/073/MAR
Install a 70t feed barge
Ouseness, Papa Sound, Westray, Orkney
Received 18 Feb 2020 - Decided20/074/HH
Erect a garage
Muckleston Harray Orkney
Received 19 Feb 2020 - Decided20/075/PIP
Siting of a replacement house (one for one)
West Green, Howe Road, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2ND
Received 19 Feb 2020 - Decided20/076/PP
Erect a house with an integral garage and an air source heat pump (amendment to 17/154/PP)
7 Grimsetter Drive (Plot C), Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 20 Feb 2020 - Decided20/078/PN
Install a pole, antennae, cabinet and associated works
Stronsay Community Centre, Stronsay, Orkney, KW17 2AE
Received 26 Feb 2020 - Unknown19/270/NMV/01
Proposed dining window to doors, bedroom window reduced, door removed and flue pipe installed
Bishops (Land Near) Horries Road Deerness Orkney Islands KW17 2QL
Received 25 Feb 2020 - Decided20/079/LB
Re-harl chimney stack, and paint external walls, windows and doors
14 St Catherine's Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HX
Received 26 Feb 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