Scotland · Local authority

Shetland Islands
Planning applications.

Explore collected planning applications and decisions for Shetland Islands. Search an address, application reference or proposal to find a record.

Collected application statistics

Collected records · All available dates

8,866Searchable applications

125Recorded as pending

98%Approval rate · 7,232 approved or refused records

113Refused applications

7,119 approved · 113 refused · 248 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 31 Mar 2006 to 7 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 11 Oct 2026. Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.

Local planning information

Council sources checked 14 Sept 2026

Planning information Planning and Building Local plan Pre-application advice Pre-application advice Conservation areas Conservation Areas

Council contacts

Planning enquiriesdevelopment.management@shetland.gov.uk Council source
Planning enquiries01595744293 Council 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 areas3 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

Unknown2014/025/MAR
To deploy a single 220m twin-headline longline for production of mussels
Setterness Lunna
Received 4 Jul 2014
Decided2014/226/PPF
To erect 5 shared residential chalets as ancillary hotel accommodation (Class 7) and install new surface water soakaways (retrospective).
Sumburgh Hotel Sumburgh Virkie Shetland ZE3 9JN
Received 7 Jul 2014
Decided2014/227/PPF
To erect 2 shared residential chalets
Former Police Station Dunrossness Shetland ZE2 9JG
Received 7 Jul 2014
Decided2014/228/PPF
Change of use from hall to shared residential accommodation
Bruce Memorial Hall Virkie Shetland ZE3 9JS
Received 7 Jul 2014
Appeal Upheld2014/023/MAR
To deploy a single 110m twin-headline longline for production of mussels
Swinister Voe Yell Sound
Received 2 Jul 2014
Decided2014/229/PPP
To erect one and a half storey dwellinghouse (Planning Permission in Principle)
Plot 2 Hillside Road Sandwick Shetland ZE2 9HW
Received 8 Jul 2014
Decided2014/230/PPF
To site rural freight store (Retrospective Application)
COPE Ltd Port Business Park Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0TW
Received 7 Jul 2014
Decided2014/231/PPF
Erect and install 6kw wind turbine on a 15m high tower and excavation of associated trench for electricity cable
Valkyrie Aithsetter Cunningsburgh Shetland ZE2 9HG
Received 9 Jul 2014
Decided2014/232/PPF
Install 6kw wind turbine on a 15m high tower and excavation of associated trench for electricity cable
Gunrig Scatness Virkie Shetland ZE3 9JW
Received 9 Jul 2014
Decided2014/233/PPF
Demolish existing garage and erect new domestic garage
1 Annsbrae Gardens Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0BU
Received 11 Jul 2014
Decided2014/234/PPF
To erect 2 dwellinghouses with access road, turning and parking areas
Brae Fire Station Brae Shetland ZE2 9QG
Received 15 Jul 2014
Decided2014/235/PNT
Prior notification for openreach street telecoms cabinet
Telephone Exchange Sandwick Shetland ZE2 9HN
Received 11 Jul 2014
Unknown2014/236/SCR
Screening opinion for proposed turbine
Brae Shetland ZE2 9TY
Received 8 Jul 2014
Unknown2014/237/SCR
Screening opinion for turbine
Hillhead Ollaberry Shetland ZE2 9RT
Received 9 Jul 2014
Decided2014/238/PNT
Prior notification for openreach street telecoms cabinet
Side Of Burnside Houl Road Scalloway Shetland ZE1 0UA
Received 16 Jul 2014
Unknown2014/239/PNT
Prior notification for openreach street telecoms cabinet
Junction Of Chapel Lane & Lang Closs Scalloway Shetland ZE1 0TR
Received 16 Jul 2014
Decided2014/026/MAR
To replace an existing square cage development at an existing consented salmon farm with ten 100m-circumference cages and a 14m x 10.5m feed barge to be used for on-growing salmon, trout, cod or halibut
Setterness South Lunna
Received 11 Jul 2014
Decided2014/240/PPF
Erect dwellinghouse and garage; create access road; install septic tank, infiltration field and surface water soakaway
Foulawick Brae Shetland ZE2 9QS
Received 17 Jul 2014
Decided2014/241/APN
Erect agricultural storage shed
Smithfield Hillside Road Sandwick Shetland ZE2 9HW
Received 17 Jul 2014
Decided2014/242/PPP
Erect dwellinghouse (Planning Permission in Principle)
South Of Da Fustra Westing Unst Shetland ZE2 9DW
Received 18 Jul 2014
Decided2014/243/PPF
To erect store and create compound (Class 6 - Storage or Distribution)
Marine Park Vidlin Shetland ZE2 9QB
Received 18 Jul 2014
Decided2014/244/PPF
Erect extension and re-clad
Hunter & Morrisons Blackhill Industrial Estate Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0PZ
Received 18 Jul 2014
Decided2014/245/PPF
Demolish existing building and erect dwellinghouse
East Of Havera Port Arthur Scalloway Shetland ZE1 0UN
Received 18 Jul 2014
Awaiting decision2014/246/PPF
Retrospective application for the part reconstruction of the east runway revetment to Sumburgh Airport, to include X-block concrete fabrication yard, laydown areas, temporary barge pier and associated works
Sumburgh Airport Virkie Shetland ZE3 9JP
Received 23 Jul 2014

Records are ordered by application ID, not submission date. Use search to find a particular address or proposal.

View all applications

Researching a proposal in Shetland 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 applications

Guides to planning records

All planning guides

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.
UK research
Published 16 Jul 2026Updated 13 Sept 2026
Understanding planning · 13 min read
Planning permission drawings: how to read plans
Read planning drawings, floor plans, elevations and sections. Use labelled diagrams, a drawing comparison table and revision checks to understand a proposal.
UK research
Published 6 Aug 2026Updated 13 Sept 2026
Property research · 13 min read
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.
UK research
Published 13 Aug 2026Updated 13 Sept 2026

What these statistics cover

These figures describe applications collected by PlanningTrack for Shetland 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