How many planning applications has Orkney Islands Council received?

Orkney Islands Council received 403 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 74%.

How long does Orkney Islands Council take to decide applications?

Orkney Islands Council takes an average of 100 days to decide planning applications. The statutory target is 8 weeks (56 days) for householder and minor applications, and 13 weeks for major applications.

What is the planning approval rate for Orkney Islands Council?

Orkney Islands Council approves 74% of planning applications, compared to a national average of approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Orkney Islands Council?

Submit your representation to Orkney Islands Council during the public consultation period — typically 21 days from when the application was publicised. Planning Signal shows the consultation deadline for each application and links directly to the Orkney Islands Council planning portal.

Orkney Islands Council Planning Applications

Search and explore Orkney Islands Council planning applications. Planning Signal is your free alternative to the Orkney Islands Council planning portal — search all recent applications, track decisions, and get alerts on new developments in the area.

Region: Scotland

About Orkney Islands Council

Governance

Leader: Heather Woodbridge (Independent), since 20 February 2024

Chief Executive: Oliver Reid, since 23 January 2023

Seats: 21 councillors (term: Full council elected every 5 years)

Founded: 16 May 1975

Last election: 5 May 2022

Political composition: Independent (19), Green (2)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Orkney Islands Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Orkney Islands Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Orkney Islands Council mention key planning constraints like heritage, flood risk, and environmental concerns
Council Boundary Map - Interactive map showing the council boundary and application locations
Full Details - View complete application details, dates and decision status

Council Insights

Property Prices

Area Information

Admin district: Orkney Islands
Parliamentary constituency: Orkney and Shetland
LSOA: West Kirkwall - 01

Crime Statistics

0 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in Orkney Islands Council.

Ecology & Wildlife Constraints (keywords: bats, bat survey, bat roost, great crested newt, GCN...)
Trees & Landscape (keywords: tree preservation order, TPO, arboricultural, tree survey, root protection area...)
Flood & Drainage (keywords: flood zone 2, flood zone 3, flood risk assessment, FRA, surface water...)
Heritage & Conservation (keywords: listed building, grade II, grade II*, grade I, conservation area...)
Green Belt (keywords: green belt, inappropriate development, very special circumstances, openness)
Highways & Access (keywords: visibility splays, highway authority objection, access arrangement, parking provision, transport statement...)
Refusal & Risk Indicators (keywords: refusal, delegated refusal, appeal dismissed, overdevelopment, character and appearance...)
Planning Process & Appeals (keywords: appeal lodged, appeal allowed, appeal dismissed, public inquiry, inspector)

Planning Activity Summary

Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Orkney Islands Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Orkney Islands Council

139 towns and villages. Click any town to search for planning applications nearby.

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Orkney Islands Council area.

A brief summary of Orkney Islands Council

Orkney Islands Council serves as the local authority for the Orkney Islands, one of Scotland's 32 council areas. Established in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the council has remained stable through subsequent local government reforms. Its headquarters are located in Kirkwall, making it a key player in managing planning applications and local development in the picturesque island region. The council was established in 16 May 1975. The council is currently led by Heather Woodbridge (Independent). The council comprises 21 councillors seats, with the most recent election held on 5 May 2022.

There were no crimes reported in the Orkney Islands Council area during the most recent reporting period.

The council area encompasses 139 towns and villages, including Kirkwall and Stromness. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Orkney Islands Council Planning Applications

Planning Signal provides a free, fast planning search for Orkney Islands Council. Use the postcode search above to find planning applications near any address in the Orkney Islands Council area. Unlike the official Orkney Islands Council planning portal, Planning Signal lets you save searches, watch individual applications, and receive email alerts when decisions are made or new applications are submitted nearby.

Whether you're a resident checking Orkney Islands Council planning applications near your home, a homeowner tracking your own application, or a property professional monitoring the local market, Planning Signal gives you the tools to stay informed about planning and development across Orkney Islands Council.

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 403 planning applications Orkney Islands Council received. Of these, 74% were approved, with an average decision time of 100 days.

This is below the national average of approximately 87%, which may reflect stricter local policies, sensitivity of the area, or higher levels of speculative applications. Pre-application advice is particularly worthwhile in Orkney Islands Council.

With an average of 100 days, decisions in Orkney Islands Council take longer than the statutory targets. Applicants should budget for a 4-month timeline and consider pre-application discussions to avoid delays.

The most common application types in Orkney Islands Council were full planning applications (204), outline applications (36), listed building and heritage (36). Full planning applications account for 51% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 2 large-scale (major) developments, 211 medium-scale applications, 109 smaller schemes were submitted.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 51 applications
Refused: 8 applications
Withdrawn: 10 applications
Awaiting decision: 334 applications

Related Planning Guides

What Is Planning Permission in the UK? — Planning permission is the formal approval you need from your local council before making certain changes to a building or piece of land.
What Is Permitted Development? — Permitted development rights allow certain building works and changes of use without the need to apply for planning permission.
How Long Does Planning Permission Take? — Typical timelines for planning permission decisions in the UK, from submission to approval, and what can cause delays.