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
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 dates10,429Searchable applications
136Recorded as pending
98%Approval rate · 8,226 approved or refused records
133Refused applications
8,093 approved · 133 refused · 282 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 29 Nov 2002 to 12 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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 Pre-application advice Pre-application adviceConservation areas Conservation Areas
Council contacts
- Planning enquiriesdevelopment.management@shetland.gov.ukCouncil source
- Planning enquiries01595744293Council 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
- Decided2024/295/PPF
To site a catering van in the parking area
Ulsta Ferry Terminal Ulsta Yell Shetland
Received 6 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/296/PPF
To install an 80kVA electric vehicle rapid charger to serve two parking space, supplied via a ducted cable routed from the building distribution board in Brae Youth Centre.
Brae Youth Centre Old School Brae Shetland ZE2 9QJ
Received 9 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/297/PPF
Installation of a 6kW Wind Turbine on a 9m tower; excavated cable trench back to the property of Holmview; create concrete pad foundation and associated anchor block.
Setter Farm Tingwall Shetland ZE1 0UQ
Received 10 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/298/PPF
Demolition of existing single storey porch on north (rear) elevation and construction of replacement single storey extension to north (rear) elevation (part-retrospective).
Da Haa Watsness WALLS SHETLAND ZE2 9PE
Received 11 Dec 2024 - Decided2023/263/DCON1
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 9 (Filter Trench Information)
Plot Whalsay Shetland
Received 11 Dec 2024 - Decided2023/263/DCON2
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 14 (Biodiversity)
Plot Whalsay Shetland
Received 11 Dec 2024 - Decided2023/211/DCON1
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 8(2) - Confirmation of the status of subterranean elements of the Development.
Lower Black Hill Industrial Estate Gremista Lerwick Shetland
Received 11 Dec 2024 - Unknown2024/301/PN
Prior notification to erect agricultural building.
Melby Cottage Melby Sandness Shetland ZE2 9PL
Received 16 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/236/DCON1
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 4 (Parking).
Houlland Sandwick Shetland ZE2 9HW
Received 13 Dec 2024 - Decided2023/211/DCON2
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 9(2) - Financial Guarantee
Lower Black Hill Industrial Estate Gremista Lerwick Shetland
Received 13 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/302/PPF
Proposed porch extension to existing house.
3 Andrewston Brae Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0RF
Received 16 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/303/PPF
Construction and operation of 132 kV substation and ancillary infrastructure and associated works to connect Mossy Hill Wind Farm to the Transmission Network.
600M West Of The Western Extent Of Lerwick BNG HU 44730 42646
Received 17 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/304/PPF
Formation of a temporary car park and associated works (including temporary road surfacing) within phased Knab redevelopment site.
Former Anderson High School Site Twageos Road Lerwick Shetland
Received 17 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/306/PPF
Partial Change of use from Ferry Terminal Waiting Shelter (Use Class 11) to office space (Use Class 4) to create office space for within existing ferry terminal waiting shelter; alterations to the external elevations, including addition of new window openings and replacement of existing window / entrance door screen; formation of new ramp.
Waiting Area Shelter / Public Toilets Symbister Ferry Terminal Symbister Harbour Whalsay ZE2 9AL
Received 18 Dec 2024 - Decided2023/249/DCON1
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 9 (Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) Terms of Appointment).
Shetland Islands Council Old Anderson High School Twageos Road Lerwick Shetland
Received 19 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/307/LBC
Internal alterations including installing accessible toilet, removal of ecclesiastical furniture and redundant stairway; carry out essential fabric repairs to walls, floor, roof and elements of structure; install insulation, replacement windows, external drainage and new air source heat pump.
Whalsay Kirk Kirkness Brough Whalsay Shetland ZE2 9AL
Received 19 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/308/PPF
Install air source heat pump and install new foul drainage to septic tank.
Whalsay Kirk Kirkness Brough Whalsay Shetland ZE2 9AL
Received 19 Dec 2024 - Decided2023/211/DCON3
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 12 (CEMP)
Lower Black Hill Industrial Estate Gremista Lerwick Shetland
Received 19 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/310/PPF
To erect 2no. single storey dwellinghouses; create access and parking; install air source heat pumps; install surface water attenuation trench.
Plot A Sandwick Shetland
Received 20 Dec 2024 - Decided2023/249/DCON2
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 13 (Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) archaeology)
Shetland Islands Council Old Anderson High School Twageos Road Lerwick Shetland
Received 19 Dec 2024 - Decided2023/249/DCON3
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 10 (Play area equipment pre-commencement)
Shetland Islands Council Old Anderson High School Twageos Road Lerwick Shetland
Received 19 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/311/SCR
EIA screening opinion in respect of the proposed development Scalloway Waterfront Regeneration Project.
Scalloway Waterfront Scalloway Shetland ZE1 0TR
Received 20 Dec 2024 - Decided2024/312/PPF
Proposed change of use from daycare (Class 10) to residential use (Class 9).
Peerie Foxes 6 Fox Lane Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0EZ
Received 20 Dec 2024 - Decided2012/182/DCON1
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 10 (Reinstatement reporting)
Site To West Of Scatsta Airport Scatsta Brae Shetland ZE2 9QP
Received 8 Nov 2024
Records are ordered by application ID, not submission date. Use search to find a particular address or proposal.
View all applicationsResearching 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 applicationsGuides to planning records
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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 coverageMore planning authorities in Scotland
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- Stirling
- The Cairngorms National Park
- The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
- West Dunbartonshire