Orkney Islands Council Local Development Plan

Delivery Programme March 2025

www.orkney.gov.uk

IMAGE: Cover photograph showing an Orkney landscape at sunset, with standing stones, sheep grazing in a field, the Orkney Islands Council crest, and the text “Orkney Islands Council Local Development Plan Delivery Programme March 2025” and “www.orkney.gov.uk”.

Contents

• Introduction
• Background
• What is a Delivery Programme?
• The Orkney Island Council Delivery Programme
• Schedule 1 - Delivery Programme: Proposals
• Schedule 2 - Delivery Programme: Policies

Introduction

The Council’s statutory local development plan when adopted in 2017 was accompanied by a Delivery Programme to support the delivery of the Local Development Plan. This Delivery Programme will replace the Delivery Programme adopted in 2017.

Background

In response to the letter received from the Chief Planner there has been a review undertaken of information contained in the existing Housing Land Audit, Strategic Housing Investment Plan and previous information from stakeholders and landowners to prepare an updated Delivery Plan for the existing Orkney Local Development Plan. This includes considering the information needed to show a Deliverable Housing Land Pipeline.

What is a Delivery Programme?

The purpose of the Delivery Programme is to support the delivery of the Orkney Island Council Local Development Plan 2017 (OLDP) by setting out the actions and partnerships that are necessary to implement the strategy of the Plan. In accordance with legislative requirements, the Delivery Programme, as a minimum, must set out:

• a list of actions required to deliver policies and proposals contained in the OLDP;
• an explanation as to how those actions are to be undertaken;
• the timescale for the conclusion of each action; and
• the expected sequencing of, and timescales for, delivery of housing on sites allocated by the LDP (a ‘housing delivery pipeline’).

The Orkney Island Council Delivery Programme

The Delivery Programme, set out at in Schedule 1 and 2, outlines the actions required to support future development across Orkney. The Delivery Programme is structured according to the different allocations in settlements and highlights where there is relevant infrastructure considerations needed to progress delivery. It also sets out actions needed to help deliver the policies contained in the Local Development Plan. With work underway on developing a new Local Development Plan many of the actions will form part of the review of the new Local Development Plan and sites will also be reviewed as part of the preparation of the new Local Development Plan.

It should be noted that many of the sites which are allocated for development within the Local Development Plan are within private ownership therefore the timing at which sites come forward is largely outwith the control of Planning Authority. However, the Delivery Programme can be a way to facilitate development.

On viewing the remaining allocated sites within the Local Development Plan there are still many allocated sites that are available for development. These are of various sizes and locations across the different settlements of Orkney.

The Housing Land Audit has consistently demonstrated that significant numbers of new houses are delivered in Orkney through windfall development. Windfall development means planning permission has been granted on sites not specifically allocated for development in the Local Development Plan so would apply to conversions of existing buildings, small-scale infill developments within settlements or as housing developments in the countryside. With the ad hoc nature of windfall development, it isn’t specifically covered in the Delivery Programme.

This Delivery Programme sets out a Delivery Pipeline with the expected timescales for delivery of housing on sites allocated by the OLDP categorised into short term: years 1-3, medium term: years 4-6 and long term: years 7-10.

The Delivery Programme will be a useful tool to help stimulate development within the allocated sites, highlighting where there is still capacity for development in the current Local Development Plan allocations. It will also assist in developing suitable approaches to development where closer work is needed with infrastructure providers and landowners and provide a resource to show where updates or further research is required to support policies for the next Local Development Plan.

Schedule 1 - Delivery Programme: Proposals

Kirkwall Proposals

Figure 1 - Map of Kirkwall Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Kirkwall showing the settlement boundary and allocation sites K-1 through K-30, including housing, business and industrial, mixed-use, redevelopment and educational allocations around Kirkwall, Hatston, St Ola and the surrounding coastline.

Stromness Proposals

Figure 2 - Map of Stromness Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Stromness showing allocation sites STR-1 through STR-26 around the town, harbour, coastline, roads and surrounding areas.

Dounby Proposals

Figure 3 - Map of Dounby Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Dounby showing allocation sites DY-1 through DY-7 around the settlement, including roads, watercourses and surrounding land.

Finstown Proposals

Figure 4 - Map of Finstown Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Finstown showing allocation sites F-1 through F-5 around the settlement, The Ouse, the A965 and surrounding watercourses, coastline and heritage areas.

St Margaret’s Hope Proposals

Figure 5 - Map of St Margaret’s Hope Allocations

IMAGE: Map of St Margaret’s Hope showing allocation sites SMH-1 through SMH-5 around the settlement, harbour, coastline, roads and surrounding land.

Stenness Proposals

Figure 6 - Map of Stenness Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Stenness showing allocation sites STE-1 and STE-2 on either side of the A965, with surrounding drainage, settlement and open land.

Toab Proposals

Figure 7 - Map of Toab Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Toab showing allocation sites TB-1 through TB-5 along the A960 and the coastal area around Deer Sound, with drainage, mudflats and surrounding settlement.

Burray Village Proposals

Figure 8 - Map of Burray Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Burray Village showing allocation sites BV-1 through BV-6 around the village, coastline, roads, school, playing field and surrounding watercourses.

Evie Village Proposals

Figure 9 - Map of Evie Village Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Evie Village showing allocation sites EV-1 through EV-5 along the A966, including the settlement, watercourses, roads and surrounding land.

Orphir Village Proposals

Figure 10 - Map of Orphir Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Orphir showing allocation sites OR-1 through OR-6 around the settlement and A964, including drains, a wind turbine, reservoir, school and surrounding land.

Quoyloo Proposals

Figure 11 - Map of Qouyloo Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Quoyloo showing allocation sites Q-1 through Q-7 around Quoyloo and Scarwell, with roads, drains and surrounding countryside.

St Mary’s Proposals

Figure 12 - Map of St Mary’s Allocations

IMAGE: Map of St Mary’s showing allocation sites STM-1 through STM-8 along the settlement and the Bay of Ayre, with the A961, coastline and surrounding land.

The Palace Proposals

Figure 13 - Map of The Palace Allocations

IMAGE: Map of The Palace showing allocation sites P-1 through P-4 near the coastline, Palace Edens, Earl’s Palace, Bishop’s Palace and surrounding heritage features.

Burnside, Harray Proposals

Figure 14 - Map of Burnside Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Burnside, Harray showing allocation sites BH-1 through BH-4 around Appietown, roads, Burn of Netherbrough, playing field and surrounding land.

Evie School Proposals

Figure 15 - Map of Evie School Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Evie School showing allocation sites ES-1, ES-2 and ES-3 along the A966 near Redland and Standpretty, with the school, balancing pond, drains and surrounding land.

Madras Proposals

Figure 16 - Map of Madras Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Madras showing allocation sites M-2 through M-6 around Brough and Harray, with roads, watercourses and surrounding land.

Tingwall Proposals

Figure 17 - Map of Tingwall Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Tingwall showing allocation sites TW-1 and TW-2 around Tingwall, the Gorseness Road, coastline and surrounding watercourses.

Hillhead Proposals

Figure 18 - Map of Hillside Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Hillhead showing allocation sites HH-1, HH-2 and HH-3 along the B9050 and surrounding land.

Houton Proposals

Figure 19 - Map of Houton Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Houton showing allocation sites HT-1, HT-2 and HT-3 around the ferry terminal, Bay of Houton, A964, drains and surrounding land.

Lyron Proposals

Figure 20 - Map of Lyron Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Lyron showing allocation site LY-1 beside the A966, with the settlement, hall, surrounding housing, watercourse and open land.

Norseman Proposals

Figure 21 - Map of Norseman Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Norseman showing allocation sites N-1, N-2 and N-3 along the road network, with drains and surrounding peatland and countryside.

Scapa Brae Proposals

Figure 22 - Map of Scapa Brae Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Scapa Brae showing allocation sites SB-1 through SB-5 around Greenigoe and the A964, with drains, watercourses and surrounding land.

Dalespot Proposals

Figure 23 - Map of Dalespot Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Dalespot showing allocation site DA-1 beside the A961, with surrounding roads, drainage and countryside.

Herston Proposals

Figure 24 - Map of Herston Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Herston showing allocation site HE-1 near the coast and the B9042, with surrounding open land and settlement.

Lighthouse Corner Proposals

Figure 25 - Map of Lighthouse Corner Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Lighthouse Corner showing allocation sites LC-1, LC-2 and LC-3 beside the B9050 and surrounding roads, drainage and countryside.

Scorradale Proposals

Figure 26 - Map of Scorradale Allocations

IMAGE: Map of Scorradale showing allocation sites SC-1, SC-2 and SC-3 around Scorradale Road and the A964, with surrounding contours and watercourses.

Schedule 2 - Delivery Programme: Policies