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9,644 approved · 434 refused · 561 withdrawn.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: 16 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Awaiting decision25/439/PP
Convert former builders merchant to eight flats, install an access ramp and replacement windows and doors, alter access and create car parking
18 Junction Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1AB
Received 19 Dec 2025 - Decided25/440/PP
Install a roof-mounted PV array (14 panels)
63 John Street, Stromness Orkney KW16 3AD
Received 22 Dec 2025 - Decided25/441/PIP
Siting of a house and create an access (subdivision of curtilage) (including amendment to 23/059/PIP)
Brekka (Land Near), Cruan Road, Firth Orkney KW15 1TT
Received 22 Dec 2025 - Decided25/442/PIP
Siting of a house (one for one)
Tormiston (Land Near), Stenness, Orkney ,
Received 22 Dec 2025 - Unknown25/097/NMV/01
Remove existing shed
Orcadia Willow Road Kirkwall Orkney Islands KW15 1NJ
Received 19 Dec 2025 - Decided26/001/PP
Change of use of part of building to a self-catering unit
The Braes, Hellihole Road, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3DY
Received 5 Jan 2026 - Decided26/002/PP
Change of use of part of building to a self-catering unit
The Braes, Hellihole Road, Stromness Orkney KW16 3DY
Received 5 Jan 2026 - Unknown23/439/NMV/01
Amend window design, install roof mounted solar panels and ventilation grilles and extend parking area
Frogshill, Bigswell Road, Stenness, Orkney, KW16 3LA
Received 5 Jan 2026 - Decided26/003/AD
Display a fascia sign and a projecting sign
Grooves Toys, 17 Albert Street, Kirkwall Orkney KW15 1HP
Received 6 Jan 2026 - Decided25/444/S36CON
Marine Scotland Consultation
Fall Of Warness Tital Test Site Orkney
Received 19 Dec 2025 - Decided25/445/MARCON
Renewal of temporary planning permission of a fish farm at West Fara
West Fara Orkney
Received 9 Dec 2025 - Decided26/006/PP
Reinstate a house, extend, install an air source heat pump, and upgrade an access
Littlehouse, Westray Orkney KW17 2DW
Received 13 Jan 2026 - Awaiting decision26/007/PP
Erect an ancillary office (using portable building) with an air source heat pump, and install a PV array (retrospective)
South Walls And Brims Community Centre (Land Near), Hoy Orkney KW16 3PG
Received 13 Jan 2026 - Decided26/008/TC
Fell two trees and prune tree
5 Mounthoolie Place, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1JZ
Received 19 Dec 2025 - Withdrawn/Returned26/009/PP
Erect a house with air source heat pump and detached garage, install a temporary caravan and create an access (amendment to 19/322/PP)
Fairview (Land Near), Longhope, Hoy, Orkney
Received 16 Jan 2026 - Unknown26/005/TC
Fell two trees
The Haven, King Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1JF
Received 8 Jan 2026 - Decided26/011/PP
Erect a house and integral garage and an air source heat pump (amendment to 21/269/AMC)
Burnbank (Plot 3), Burray, Orkney
Received 20 Jan 2026 - Unknown24/041/NMV/01
Change spanish slate roof for box profile on the proposed shed
East Breckan (Land Near), Holm, Orkney, KW17 2SB
Received 10 Jan 2026 - Decided26/012/WL
Erect a causeway comprising rock-fill core bund and in-fill, with concrete bankseat, to facilitate the mooring of a temporary floating pier or barge (resubmission of 25/303/WL)
Eday Ferry Terminal (Land Near), Eday, Orkney
Received 19 Jan 2026 - Decided26/013/HH
Extend a house
Stenabreck, Heath House Road, Stenness, Orkney KW16 3EZ
Received 26 Jan 2026 - Decided26/014/HH
Extend a house
30 Buttquoy Crescent, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1JH
Received 26 Jan 2026 - Decided26/015/SCR
Screening opinion request to extend operational phase of 5 x 2MW turbines (planning permission 11/102/TPP) from 18 years to 25 years
Spurness Wind Farm, Sanday, Orkney
Received 19 Jan 2026 - Awaiting decision26/016/SCR
Screening opinion request for quarry development
Quarry Near Uppertown, St Margaret's Hope, Orkney
Received 22 Jan 2026 - Decided26/017/PP
Amend roof cladding to flat black concrete tiles
Errival (Land Near), St Ola, Orkney
Received 27 Jan 2026
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
All planning guides
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Read planning drawings, floor plans, elevations and sections. Use labelled diagrams, a drawing comparison table and revision checks to understand a proposal.
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Planning approval rates: how to read council statistics
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