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9,644 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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: 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided23/354/HH
Form three openings, install three windows and 13 rooflights
The Manse, 5 Manse Lane, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AP
Received 22 Sept 2023 - Decided23/355/LB
Form three openings, install three windows and 13 rooflights, and internal alterations including removal of staircase and partitions
The Manse, 5 Manse Lane, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AP
Received 22 Sept 2023 - Decided23/358/PP
Change of use from a flat to a self-catering unit (retrospective)
28B Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney
Received 25 Sept 2023 - Decided23/360/PP
Change of use from a house to a self-catering unit (retrospective)
10 Firth Square Junction Road Kirkwall Orkney Islands KW15 1AT
Received 25 Sept 2023 - Withdrawn/Returned23/361/PIP
Siting of a replacement house and convert a redundant building to a house (two for one) and create an access
Shaird (Land Near), Hools Road, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2RJ
Received 26 Sept 2023 - Unknown23/074/NMV/01
Change external walls from blockwork to cladding
Isgarth, Nicolson Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1BD
Received 26 Sept 2023 - Unknown23/362/PN
Install antennas, remote radio units, GPS node and ancillary equipment
Vestrafiold (Land NWest Of B9056) Sandwick Orkney Islands KW16 3LU
Received 26 Sept 2023 - Decided23/363/LB
Install replacement wall mounted junction box
8 Graham Place, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BY
Received 26 Sept 2023 - Decided23/364/PP
Erect a house with an air source heat pump (in-fill development)
Scapa Cottages (Land Near), St Ola, Orkney, KW15 1SE
Received 29 Sept 2023 - Decided23/365/HH
Re-roof and extend a house
Geniefea, 39A North End Road, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3LH
Received 2 Oct 2023 - Decided23/366/HH
Install two replacement windows and door
Alladale, Back Road, St Margarets Hope, South Ronaldsay, Orkney KW17 2SP
Received 26 Sept 2023 - Unknown23/367/PN
Install an additional dish and associated ancillary works
North Ronaldsay Radio Station, North Ronaldsay, Orkney, KW17 2BG
Received 2 Oct 2023 - Decided23/369/MARCON
Construction of Harbour Facility
Scapa Deep Water Quay
Received 2 Oct 2023 - Decided23/370/MARCON
Hatston Pier and Terminal Expansion
Hatston Pier, St Ola, Orkney
Received 2 Oct 2023 - Decided23/371/PP
Erect a hot food takeaway unit with external seating, construct parking, and associated drainage (temporary for five years)
14 Garson Place, Stromness, Orkney
Received 2 Oct 2023 - Decided23/372/MARCON
Construction and Operation of Generating Station and Offshore Transmission Infrastructure(transferred to Marine Planning Team)
West Of Orkney Windfarm
Received 3 Oct 2023 - Decided23/373/PP
Erect a campsite amenities building with an air source heat pump and solar panels, and install a sewage treatment plant (part retrospective) (resubmission of 23/003/PP)
Birsay Outdoor Centre And Campsite, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2LY
Received 5 Oct 2023 - Decided23/374/CLEUD
Regularise the subdivision of a house and use of a premises as a self-catering unit
Riff (Farmhouse), Puldrite Road, Rendall Orkney KW17 2PB
Received 9 Oct 2023 - Decided23/375/PP
Erect a joinery workshop (Class 5) with associated hardstanding and access track, create a separate hardstanding for laydown of materials, and create two accesses (part retrospective)
Hillcrest (Land Near), Orphir, Orkney
Received 9 Oct 2023 - Decided23/376/HH
Extend a house
Ha', Smoogro Road, Orphir, Orkney KW17 2RB
Received 9 Oct 2023 - Decided23/377/PP
Install ground mounted solar panels
North Church, Brecks Road, Shapinsay, Orkney, KW17 2EA
Received 10 Oct 2023 - Decided23/378/PP
Erect a house with an integral garage and an air source heat pump (resubmission of 23/235/PP)
Burnbank (Land Near), Hillside Road, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3HR
Received 10 Oct 2023 - Unknown23/379/APN
Erect three general purpose sheds
Stoneyquoy, Hoy, Orkney KW16 3NY
Received 11 Oct 2023 - Decided23/380/PP
Erect a self-catering cabin with an air source heat pump
Baikies Noust, Evie Village, Evie, Orkney KW17 2PJ
Received 11 Oct 2023
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