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 dates10,408Searchable applications
136Recorded as pending
98%Approval rate · 8,213 approved or refused records
133Refused applications
8,080 approved · 133 refused · 280 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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
- Decided2022/186/NMV
Non-material variation Erect dwelling house with air source heat pump
Plot 1 Aisterlea Cunningsburgh Shetland
Received 9 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/012/WL
To deploy 6 x 380m twin-headline longlines to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production
Site 1, Bight Of Haggrister, Sullom Voe
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/013/WL
To deploy 10 x 380m twin-headline longlines to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production
Site 2, Lunnister, Sullom Voe
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/014/WL
To deploy 6 x 380m twin-headline longlines to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production
Site 3, Marki Ness, Sullom Voe
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/015/WL
To deploy 4 x 380m twin-headline longlines to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production
Site 4, Gluss Voe, Ollaberry
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/016/WL
To deploy 4 x 380m twin-headline longlines to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production
Site 5, Quey Firth, Ollaberry
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/017/WL
To deploy 10 x 380m twin-headline longlines to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production
Site 6, Burra Voe, North Roe, Yell Sound
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/018/WL
To deploy 4 x 380m twin-headline longlines to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production
Site 7, Sound, West Yell, Yell Sound
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/019/WL
To deploy 6 x 380m twin-headline longlines to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production
Site 8, Taing Of Setter, West Yell, Yell Sound
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/020/WL
To deploy 1 x 90m-diameter twin support collars to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production (pilot works licence)
Site 9, West Sandwick (North), West Yell, Yell Sound
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/021/WL
To deploy 1 x 90m-diameter twin support collars to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production (pilot works licence)
Site 10, West Sandwick (South), West Yell, Yell Sound
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/022/WL
To deploy 1 x 90m-diameter twin support collars to be used for on-growing of kelp, for the purpose of marine carbon sequestration and feedstock production (pilot works licence)
Site 11, Wick Of Copister, South Yell, Yell Sound
Received 12 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/190/PPP
To erect dwellinghouse (Planning Permission in Principle)
Plot B Stove Sandwick Shetland
Received 15 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/191/PPP
To erect dwellinghouse (Planning Permission in Principle)
Plot C Stove Sandwick Shetland ZE2 9HH
Received 15 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/192/PPP
To erect dwellinghouse (Planning Permission in Principle)
Plot D Stove Sandwick Shetland
Received 15 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/193/PPP
To erect dwellinghouse (Planning Permission in Principle)
Plot E Stove Sandwick Shetland
Received 15 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/194/PPP
To erect dwellinghouse (Planning Permission in Principle)
Plot F Stove Sandwick Shetland ZE2 9HH
Received 15 Jul 2024 - Decided2018/335/DCON48
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning Condition 17 - Signage
Central Mainland Shetland
Received 16 Jul 2024 - Unknown2024/195/HRA
Installation of new submarine cable between mainland Shetland and Papa Stour
Papa Stour To Mainland Shetland Shetland ZE2 9PW
Received 11 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/196/PPF
To site a static residential caravan
Vaarhavn Eshaness Shetland ZE2 9RS
Received 16 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/197/PPF
Change of Use & Conversion of Existing Church to create residential unit, conversion of existing main church including rear extension and front timber decking terrace, to form cafe & shop area for local crafts (mezzanine floor). Ground floor to include, entrance lobby, internal & external seating area, kitchen, larder & 3 separate toilets.
Church Of Scotland Cunningsburgh Shetland ZE2 9HB
Received 17 Jul 2024 - Decided2022/179/DCON3
Application for consent, agreement or approval required by planning condition 5 - surface water drainage system
135 Sandveien Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0RX
Received 18 Jul 2024 - Decided2024/198/PPF
To erect extension to East gable of existing house.
Mill A Gordi East Voe Scalloway Shetland ZE1 0US
Received 18 Jul 2024 - Decided2023/142/NMV
Updated Construction Bird Mitigation Plan
North Haven Fair Isle Shetland ZE2 9JU
Received 19 Jul 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
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 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