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9,643 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Unknown21/462/NMV/01
Changes to internal works and changes to windows
Twatt Hall, Twatt, Orkney, KW17 2JH
Received 16 May 2022 - Decided22/180/LB
Install replacement gates
Osmondwall Cemetery, Cantick Road, Hoy, Orkney
Received 19 May 2022 - Decided22/181/HH
Erect a garage with an air source heat pump (retrospective)
10 Garrioch Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1PL
Received 20 May 2022 - Decided22/183/HH
Install replacement windows
81 Victoria Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1DQ
Received 23 May 2022 - Decided22/184/LB
Install replacement windows
81 Victoria Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1DQ
Received 23 May 2022 - Decided22/185/PN
Remove disconnected cable
Sands Of Mussetter Eday, Orkney
Received 20 May 2022 - Decided22/186/HH
Extend a house
Skedgibist, Sanday, Orkney, KW17 2BA
Received 23 May 2022 - Decided22/187/PP
Convert a store to a flat, convert a window to a door and install replacement windows and a rooflight
17 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HP
Received 24 May 2022 - Decided22/188/PP
Erect a house with an air source heat pump (subdivision of curtilage)
Kingsdale (Land Near), Old Finstown Road, Firth, Orkney, KW15 1TT
Received 24 May 2022 - Decided22/189/PIP
Siting of a replacement house (one for one) and create an access
Nether Onston (Land Near), Stenness, Orkney
Received 24 May 2022 - Decided22/190/CLEUD
Regularise the use of two storage sheds for storage (Class 6)
Oaklea, St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1SX
Received 24 May 2022 - Decided22/191/PP
Erect a day nursery (Class 10), create an access, associated car parking and infrastructure including surface water management and landscaping including play equipment and footpaths
Orkney College, (Land Near), Burnett Brae, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LX
Received 25 May 2022 - Decided22/192/PP
Remove landscaping and install bituminous surface
Tesco, 18 Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1RP
Received 25 May 2022 - Decided22/193/PP
Extend a shop, install lighting columns and electric vehicle chargers and associated landscaping (part retrospective)
Lidl, Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1RP
Received 26 May 2022 - Decided22/194/PP
Erect a replacement house (one for one) with a workshop and create an access (resubmission of 21/504/PP)
Starilie (Land Near), South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Received 26 May 2022 - Unknown22/006/NMV/01
Change of cladding from natural timber to part Cedral boarding, blue-grey and part painted timber, white
Mucklehouse, Brims Road, Hoy, Orkney, KW16 3NZ
Received 26 May 2022 - Decided22/195/HH
Extend a house
Lochview, Waird Road, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2HY
Received 30 May 2022 - Decided22/198/PP
Erect a replacement house with an integral garage and an air source heat pump (one for one)
Waulkmill Lodge, Waulkmill Road, Orphir, Orkney, KW17 2RA
Received 1 Jun 2022 - Decided22/199/HH
Extend a house and install an air source heat pump
2 Binscarth Cottages, Firth, Orkney, KW17 2JZ
Received 1 Jun 2022 - Decided22/200/PP
Erect a replacement house with an integral garage and an air source heat pump (one for one)
Heathervale (Land Near), Burray, Orkney, KW17 2SX
Received 1 Jun 2022 - Decided22/202/HH
Extend a house
Cliffdale, Cromwell Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LN
Received 6 Jun 2022 - Decided22/203/LB
Install an air source heat pump with housing
Old Manse, Watergate, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1PD
Received 6 Jun 2022 - Decided22/204/HH
Install an air source heat pump with housing
Old Manse, Watergate, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1PD
Received 6 Jun 2022 - Decided22/205/PP
Erect a replacement house (one for one)
East Serrigar (Land Near), South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2RL
Received 6 Jun 2022
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