Strategic Environmental Assessment Topic Papers

2025

Contents

• Topic 1: Climatic Factors — 1
  • Greenhouse gas emissions — 1
  • Historic climatic trends — 3
  • Future climatic projections — 5
  • Coastal change — 6
• Topic 2: Air — 7
  • Air pollutants — 7
• Topic 3: Water — 7
  • Water quality — 7
  • Flooding — 8
• Topic 4: Soils and Geodiversity — 9
  • Importance of soils — 9
  • Land capability for agriculture — 9
  • Carbon rich soils — 10
  • Geodiversity — 10
• Topic 5: Material Assets — 11
  • Geological mining resources — 11
  • Waste and recycling — 11
  • Water treatment works — 13
  • Renewable energy generation — 13
  • Mobile and digital connectivity — 13
• Topic 6: Biodiversity — 14
  • Areas protected for nature conservation — 14
  • Other areas important for biodiversity — 16
  • Woodland — 16
  • Other issues affecting biodiversity — 17
• Topic 7: Landscape and cultural heritage — 19
  • International and nationally important sites — 19
  • Historic and built heritage — 19
• Topic 8: Population and human health — 20
  • Datazones — 20
  • Population — 21
  • Employment — 23
  • Housing — 26
  • Living costs — 27
  • Transport — 29
  • Recreation opportunities — 29
  • Access to services — 30
• Data and information sources — 31

Topic 1: Climatic Factors

Greenhouse gas emissions

The map below, from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, shows that, in common with other parts of the UK, built up areas have higher emissions of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides) than more rural areas of Orkney. The carbon dioxide map also shows the emissions traces from main shipping routes.

IMAGE: Maps of UK carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions in 2020, measured in tonnes per square kilometre. The maps show higher emissions around built-up areas and transport routes, with enlarged maps showing emissions across Orkney.

Looking at the sectors producing greenhouse gas emissions in Orkney, as would be expected in a predominantly agricultural landscape, the livestock farming sector produced the greatest proportion of kilo tonne CO2 equivalent (kt CO2e) emissions in 2020, with other land management and uses contributing the second highest proportion of emissions. All sectors, except for transport, have shown a downwards trend in emissions since 2005. Transport emissions declined until 2012 when they started to rise again, with 2019 showing a slight decrease.

IMAGE: A doughnut chart titled “Emissions by sector during 2020, kt CO2e”. Agriculture (livestock) is the largest sector, followed by land use sectors (wetland), land use sectors (cropland), agriculture (soils), agriculture (other), domestic (other), domestic (electricity), transport (A roads), land use sectors (grassland), transport (minor roads), and smaller commercial, industrial, public-sector and other land-use categories.

Overall, CO2 equivalent emissions in Orkney showed a downwards trend from 2005 until 2018, when the inclusion of agricultural (livestock and soil) emissions and other changes in the way data was reported in official statistics created a significant increase in reported emissions. However, the figures since then have continued the downwards trend.

IMAGE: A bar chart titled “emissions over time, kt CO2e”, covering 2005 to 2020. Carbon dioxide emissions are substantially higher than methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Carbon dioxide declines from approximately 315 kt CO2e in 2005 to approximately 240 kt CO2e in 2020; methane and nitrous oxide increase sharply in the reported totals from 2018 onwards.

Historic climatic trends

There are two weather stations with publicly available historic data in Orkney; one at Loch of Hundland approximately 4.3km from the northern coast of West Mainland, and one at Kirkwall airport approximately 4.3km from the centre of Kirkwall.

Both locations show similar trends for rising average maximum and minimum temperatures during between January and September, with Kirkwall airport continuing the rising minimum and maximum temperatures for the rest of the year. However the trend for Loch of Hundland shows increasing divergence between minimum and maximum temperatures during September to December, with decreasing average minimum temperatures and rising maximums. As would be expected with rising temperatures, both locations show a decline in the numbers of days of air frost.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “30 year average monthly minimum and maximum temperatures, Loch of Hundland weather station”. Maximum temperatures rise from approximately 6°C in winter to approximately 16–17°C in July and August, while minimum temperatures rise from approximately 1–2°C in winter to approximately 10°C in July and August. The chart compares the periods 1961–1990, 1971–2000, 1981–2010 and 1991–2020.

IMAGE: A bar chart titled “emissions over time, kt CO2e”, showing methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions for each year from 2005 to 2020.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “30 year average monthly maximum temperatures, Kirkwall airport weather station”. Maximum temperatures rise from approximately 6°C in winter to approximately 16°C in July and August, then decline through the remainder of the year. The chart compares four 30-year periods.

In relation to rainfall, the trend suggests a wetter start to the year followed by drier springs, wetter summers, drier autumns and winters for both locations.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “30 year average monthly rainfall, Loch of Hundland weather station”. Rainfall is highest in winter, at approximately 110–125 mm, and lowest in spring and summer, at approximately 45–65 mm, with the four 30-year periods showing broadly similar seasonal patterns.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “30 year average monthly rainfall, Kirkwall airport weather station”. Rainfall is highest in autumn and winter, at approximately 105–130 mm, and lowest in spring and summer, at approximately 50–65 mm.

Only Kirkwall airport weather station records wind speed, so it is not possible to compare locations in relation to wind. However data from Kirkwall airport indicates a trend for lower mean wind speeds, with the exception of April, which is has a slightly higher trend.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “30 year mean monthly wind speed at 10m, Kirkwall airport weather station”. Mean wind speeds are highest in January and December, at approximately 15–17 knots, and lowest in July and August, at approximately 10–11 knots. April is the exception to the general downward trend.

Future climatic projections

UK Climate Projections from the Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme provide an indication of future temperature increases under three different emissions scenarios: low, medium and high. Using data for the 25km square that includes Kirkwall airport (to allow comparison with historic weather station data), all of these scenarios predict a continued increase in annual temperatures. Associated with increased temperatures is an increase in atmospheric moisture, leading to increased rainfall. The Met Office consider that the UK will experience increased heavy rain and storm events. The historic data and projections suggest Orkney will experience the same.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “Mean annual temparature under different emissions scenarios”, covering 1961 to 2097. All three scenarios begin at approximately 19.9°C. By 2097, the low-emissions scenario reaches approximately 21.7°C, the medium-emissions scenario approximately 23.2°C, and the high-emissions scenario approximately 23.9°C.

Coastal change

Increased emissions will also lead to coastal change, with sea level rise affecting coastal erosion and ability of storms to affect land and infrastructure more easily. Orkney is predicted to have between around 0.36 - 0.4m (low emissions scenario) and 1.01 – 1.07m (high emissions scenario) sea level rise over 80 years to 2100.

IMAGE: Two maps of Orkney showing anticipated erosion and sea-level rise with continued emissions growth and with rapid emissions reductions. The high-emissions map shows relative sea-level rise at 2100 under RCP8.5, with red markers and lines indicating larger projected rises. The low-emissions map shows relative sea-level rise at 2100 under RCP2.6, with blue markers and lines indicating smaller projected rises.

Topic 2: Air

Air pollutants

Poor air quality can be harmful to human health as well as damaging vegetation, soils and buildings due to acidification. Objectives for harmful air pollutants are set in the Air Quality Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2010. The Cleaner Air for Scotland Strategy - An Independent Review (available via https://www.gov.scot/publications/cleaner-air-scotland-strategy-independent-review/) found that 4 of the 6 main pollutants have significantly reduced since the 1990s. This is likely to be a result of greater control and pollution prevention and control measures.

Air quality in Orkney is good. Data from 2018 to 2024 shows that no monitored locations exceeded the annual mean targets in Orkney.

Topic 3: Water

Water quality

While there are numerous small watercourses and drainage ditches throughout Orkney, there are no rivers. There are several lochs and lochans, some of which are connected to the sea and are internationally important for nature conservation.

Objectives for water quality and ecological condition are set out in the European Union Water Framework Directive, which has been transposed into various pieces of Scottish legislation. Water features above a certain size threshold require to be assigned a classification and regularly monitored, with action taken to bring as many water bodies as possible to near natural condition.

There are 56 monitored waterbodies in Orkney. Since 2016, the number of waterbodies achieving high and good status has remained largely the same over time. There has been a small decrease (2 less) in the number achieving moderate status and a slight increase in the number at poor status (2 more).

IMAGE: Five doughnut charts showing water body status in 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017. Each chart shows the proportions classified as high, good, moderate, poor and bad; the overall distribution remains broadly stable across the years.

Flooding

A number of locations in Orkney experience coastal flooding. SEPA have identified nine potentially vulnerable areas related to settlements, as well as four roads (A960 Deerness; B9047 Little Ayre, Hoy; B9047, Hoy - South Walls connection, The Ayre; Churchill Barriers). Predictions of the numbers of homes and businesses at risk from coastal flooding in 2021 and by the 2080s are provided for eight locations, with the ninth not being included below due to being reported by SEPA as <10.

Kirkwall historically experienced coastal flooding but is now counted under surface water flood risk by SEPA due to the installation of flood defences to protect against coastal flooding. While there is a flood protection scheme in place and manages much of the risk associated with coastal flooding, there remains a risk to parts of Kirkwall through the effects of climate change. Surface water flooding is increased due to high sea levels and this could also increase in the future due to higher sea levels. A significant and increasing number of people, homes and businesses are at risk of flooding from surface water by the 2080s.

IMAGE: A grouped bar chart titled “Locations at risk due to coastal flooding”, comparing people and homes and businesses in 2021 and the 2080s for Sanday, Stronsay (Whitehall), Westray (Pierowall), Stromness and Stenness, St Marys, South Ronaldsay and St Margaret’s Hope, and Burray village. Risk generally increases by the 2080s, with Stromness and Stenness and Sanday showing the largest numbers.

IMAGE: A grouped bar chart titled “Kirkwall, at risk due to surface water flooding”. The chart shows approximately 1,300 people at risk in 2021 and 1,500 in the 2080s, and approximately 900 homes and businesses at risk in 2021 and 1,100 in the 2080s.

Topic 4: Soils and Geodiversity

Importance of soils

Soils are the foundation for many resources that humans and nature rely on. They provide a place for vegetation to grow, creating food for people and wildlife. They have an important part in atmospheric systems and the water cycle.

Soils also have a vital role to play in carbon capture and tackling the effects of climate change. They, and the organisms that live within soil and are critical to its healthy functioning, are however fragile and easy to damage or destroy.

Land capability for agriculture

Land is classified by its capability for supporting different forms of agriculture, from livestock grazing to crop growing. The majority of the land in Orkney is between classes 4.1 and 5.3 (primarily grassland but capable of producing a narrow range of crops, to capable of use as improved grassland with varying levels of difficulty in establishment and maintenance), with some areas of 6.3 (rough grazing). There is a small area of land with very limited agricultural value (capability 7), mainly on Hoy. There is no land above class 4, meaning that there is no ground capable of supporting high yields of arable crops. However the soils in Orkney are known for being fertile, and supporting livestock, dairy and vegetable businesses.

IMAGE: A land-capability map of Orkney. The legend identifies classes 1, 2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 7, together with urban, other and other values. Most of Orkney is mapped in grassland and rough-grazing classes, with smaller areas in the higher agricultural-capability classes.

Carbon rich soils

Carbon rich soils, such as peat and peaty soils, are an important store of carbon. Once their structure is damaged and the soil exposed, they release the stored carbon back into the atmosphere, adding to emissions that contribute to climate change.

Orkney has some areas of peatland and peaty soils, mainly associated with heath habitats that have not been directly modified by agriculture or other land management.

IMAGE: A peat-class map of Orkney identifying non-soil areas, unknown soil type, mineral soil, nationally important carbon-rich soils, dominant vegetation classes, areas unlikely to be associated with peatland, and other values.

Geodiversity

The variety of rocks, fossils and soils laid down over time create landforms and geodiversity. Erosion, acidification and exposure or damage caused during land use activities can threaten the integrity of geodiversity interests. Geological features are also important for tourism and attracting visitors to Orkney, such as the infamous Old Man of Hoy sea stack.

There are 16 recognised areas of geological interest in Orkney. Of these, 12 are protected as part of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) that include geological features as part of their reasons for notification. There are also 11 Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS) with geological interests identified amongst their reasons for identification.

Topic 5: Material Assets

Geological mining resources

According to the British Geological Society Directory of Mines and Quarries 2020, there were five active quarries in Orkney between July and December 2019. Four were for aggregate, building stone and/or flagstones, with one being for peat for the whisky industry.

Waste and recycling

Orkney produces a comparable weight of waste per person to Scotland. However Orkney recycles a significantly lower proportion of that waste, with a greater proportion being transported to Shetland for incineration in their energy recovery plant.

IMAGE: Three bar charts compare Orkney and Scotland from 2011 to 2021 for average extrapolated kilograms of waste generated per person, percentage of waste recycled and percentage of waste incinerated. Waste generated per person is broadly comparable; Orkney’s recycling percentage is consistently lower; and Orkney’s incineration percentage is substantially higher.

Water treatment works

There are nine water treatment works in Orkney, supplying fresh water to homes and businesses, with 29 wastewater treatment plants dealing with effluent. Data provided by Scottish Water in December 2022 identified four of the water treatment works and six of the wastewater treatment plants are operating over capacity, which may affect future development.

Renewable energy generation

Orkney makes good use of the renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, with the European Marine Energy Centre also providing a grid connected testing ground for marine renewable energy technologies. Despite there being only 4 commercial scale wind turbines/wind farms in operation, according to the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum Orkney has “more than 760 small-scale wind turbines and 370 solar panels in the county. As a result, approximately 10% of the population are generating their own power and as a whole Orkney hosts 10% of the UK’s domestic wind turbines” (October 2024). Combined, this means that since 2013 Orkney has frequently generated more electricity through renewable means than it consumed.

Mobile and digital connectivity

There is a disparity between those living in the central belt and those in other areas of Scotland in relation to digital connectivity. Orkney currently has a significant number of postcode areas with speeds below the 24 megabits per second (Mbps) broadband speed previously set by the EU as ‘superfast’ (the definition has subsequently been increased to 30 Mbps).

This includes numerous post code areas with very low speeds of <10 and <2 Mbps. Scottish Government have committed to providing 100% access to superfast broadband coverage under the Reaching 100% (R100) programme , with R100 contracts expected to be completed in 2028.

IMAGE: Three broadband-coverage maps compare Orkney areas with speeds below 2 Mbps, below 10 Mbps and below 24 Mbps, alongside a Scotland map showing Gigabit or FTTP coverage. The maps are correct at January 2023.

Maps correct at January 2023: Leaflet| ©OpenStreetMap contributors, Points © 2012 LINZ, Data © thinkbroadband.com

Topic 6: Biodiversity

Areas protected for nature conservation

There are 54 areas protected for nature conservation plus 3 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Orkney, based on land and the surrounding sea. Some of these sites have multiple designations overlapping the same or similar areas.

Condition data is not available for MPAs. However the condition of the other protected areas could be seen as providing a reflection of the state of biodiversity in the Council area, and what pressures biodiversity outside of protected areas might be facing. The number of protected areas with features in unfavourable condition has remained fairly consistent at around 50% since 2010.

IMAGE: A map of Orkney showing the locations and overlapping boundaries of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Ramsar sites and Marine Protected Areas.

A wide range of pressures are affecting features, with those related to climate change, native invasive species, agricultural operations and water management affecting multiple features.

• agricultural operations — 8
• grazing (over) — 5
• grazing (appropriate level) — 4
• grazing (under) — 1
• presence/changing extent invasive species (native) — 8
• presence or changing extent of invasive species — 2
• presence/changing extent invasive species (non native) — 1
• lack of remedial management — 1
• climate change — 8
• natural event — 3
• plant pests and diseases — 1
• interspecific competition — 1
• water management — 7
• water dependant pressure (diffuse source pollution) — 4
• water dependant pressure (flow regulation) — 1
• water dependant pressure (point source pollution) — 1
• dumping/spreading/storage of materials — 3
• mineral extraction — 2
• geological core extraction — 1
• fossil collection — 1
• trampling — 2
• fishing (recreational) — 1
• recreation disturbance — 1
• burning — 1

Other areas important for biodiversity

There are also 248 Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS) identified by the Council as being locally important for biodiversity (and geological) interests. RSPB have 12 reserves throughout Orkney managed for biodiversity not just birds.

Woodland

Much of the woodland of Orkney disappeared thousands of years ago with the increase in human habitation. Scattered scrub exists throughout the mainland and large trees (mainly sycamore) can be found in and around the main settlements due to the shelter that buildings provide. There are also several mixed woodlands, plantation and a native woodland. All of these contribute to the variety of habitats that support biodiversity. Some are also promoted as places for people to visit.

IMAGE: Two maps of Orkney. The first marks RSPB reserves and Local Nature Conservation Sites. The second marks woodland locations.

Other issues affecting biodiversity

Geese are often associated with winter migration. However resident breeding greylag geese were once present all year round throughout the UK. Changes in land use and hunting meant that by the mid-nineteenth century, numbers of resident greylag geese had significantly reduced with very small numbers remaining in some of the Outer Hebrides and north western Scotland. Since then, numbers and range of resident greylag geese has increased naturally, supplemented by reintroductions.

Migratory greylag geese also spend the winter in Orkney. In the early 1990s it was estimated that around 1% of the national wintering population were found in Orkney.

However this proportion has significantly increased, with around 60% of the national wintering population now estimated to be found in Orkney. The contemporary estimated combined migratory and resident population of 70,000 birds in winter causes adverse effects on agriculture, trampling and eating grass and crops. There are also concerns about the effects of increasing numbers of breeding geese on birds that nest in the same habitat. Culling and other population management measures are being used to try and reduce the resident greylag goose population.

IMAGE: A map showing RSPB reserves and Local Nature Conservation Sites in Orkney, and a second map showing woodland locations.

IMAGE: A bar chart titled “greylag geese numbers in Orkney”, comparing resident and migratory geese in the 1980s, early 2000s, 2019 and 2022. Migratory numbers increase from approximately 30,000 in the early 2000s to approximately 45,000 in 2019 and 2022; resident numbers increase to approximately 25,000 in 2019 and approximately 22,000 in 2022.

Marine environment

There are 81 priority marine features (PMF) in Scottish waters that have policy protection through the need to conserve biodiversity, 32 of which occur in Orkney inshore waters. As well as being important for biodiversity, PMF provide ecosystem services such as being a carbon sink, natural coastal defence, nursery habitat, providing products for human use, supporting tourism, etc. Some PMF are also legally protected as protected species or as a feature of an area protected for nature conservation. PMF can be habitats, single species, or a combination of both habitats and species. Knowledge of where PMF occur is not comprehensive as not all areas have been surveyed.

Locations in Orkney have also been designated as haul out sites important to seals for breeding and/or resting. However not all areas used by seals have been identified and there are many more around Orkney’s coast that are not mapped.

IMAGE: A map titled “Designated haul-out sites for seals (Protection of Seals Orders)”. Purple areas mark seal haul-out sites and blue areas mark breeding colony seal haul-outs around the Orkney coast.

Topic 7: Landscape and cultural heritage

International and nationally important sites

The area around the neolithic sites of Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness and Skara Brae have been identified as a World Heritage Site, known as the Heart of the Neolithic. The immediate and wider landscape setting of these monuments is of importance, as is finding a way to ensure that tourism is at sustainable levels that do not cause harm while still contributing to the local economy.

Hoy and part of the west mainland is recognised as being a nationally important landscape, designated as the Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area. It has eleven special qualities related to the coastal, agricultural and historic archaeological landscape.

IMAGE: A map showing the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site boundary, World Heritage Site buffer zone, sensitive area and the National Scenic Area in the west Mainland and Hoy.

Historic and built heritage

Orkney has a wide number and variety of historic and build heritage, including less common heritage such as World War II buildings, grain mills and the A listed St Magnus Cathedral, parts of which date from the 11th century. While much of the built heritage is designated, some is not and is at risk due to effects of weather and lack of use/maintenance.

• scheduled monuments — 373
• conservation areas — 6
• Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes — 3
• Buildings at Risk Register — 80
• A listed — 28
• B listed — 288
• C listed — 314

Topic 8: Population and human health

Datazones

Statistical population data is collected at a national level by Scottish Government and associated organisations, either annually or every decade as part of the census. Each geographic area is split into different datazones, which usually contain around 500 to 1000 people but vary in size depending on population density. The boundaries and numbers of datazones are amended over time to reflect changing population levels. Orkney currently has 29 datazones.

Population

Although the trend in population change is similar between Scotland and Orkney, between 2018 to 2022 Orkney has seen an overall 3.1% increase compared to Scotland’s 1.4%. The upwards trend seen up to 2021 is however not distributed equally throughout Orkney, as between 2017 and 2021 (the latest period that datazone level data is available), 11 datazone areas saw an overall decline of between -0.1 to -7.8% (-1 to -84 people), while 17 datazone areas saw increases of between 0.1 and 10.7% (+2 to +90 people). One datazone, the area to the west of Kirkwall, saw the largest increase of 35.2% (+208 people). The population of both Orkney and Scotland have subsequently taken a downward trend in 2022.

IMAGE: Two line charts show population change from 2001 to 2022. Orkney rises from approximately 19,200 people in 2001 to approximately 22,500 in 2021, before falling to approximately 22,000 in 2022. Scotland rises from approximately 5.06 million to approximately 5.48 million before falling slightly in 2022.

Although the populations of Orkney and Scotland have increased, this is down to inward migration as the death rate has exceeded the birth rate.

Approximately 49.1% of the Orkney population (2022 data) were male, and 50.9% female. This is comparable to the Scottish population. However in 2021 there were proportionally more females over 65 years old in Orkney (52.3%) than males (47.7%) compared to Scotland (54.9 and 45.1% respectively).

Orkney also has a smaller proportion of the population at what is commonly considered to be working age and a greater proportion of the population at typical retirement age (2022 data).

Population projections (2018 projection) predict that the Orkney population will start to decline in around 2027 and continue to decrease to 2043. This is for low and high migration rates, and principal projection. In contrast the Scottish population is predicted to increase to 2036 before plateauing to 2043 (principal projection), continue to increase with high migration but decline from around 2036.

IMAGE: Two line charts show 2018 population projections to 2043. All Orkney projections decline after approximately 2027; the Scottish principal and high-migration projections increase, while the low-migration projection declines after approximately 2030.

Employment

The 2022 Census found that, when compared to Scotland, Orkney has proportionally fewer people who were economically inactive (eg retired, unable to work) and more who were economically active. The Census also found that 1% of the population were unemployed in Orkney compared to 2% in Scotland.

IMAGE: Two pie charts show that 74% of the Orkney population is economically active and 26% economically inactive, compared with 57% economically active and 39% economically inactive in Scotland.

Of those working, in 2022 the Census showed that the proportions of males and females working full and part time were similar between Orkney and Scotland. However there was a marked difference between male and female hours worked, with more males working full time and working longer hours than females.

IMAGE: Two pie charts compare full-time and part-time work by sex in Orkney and Scotland. In Scotland, 22.2% of males work part time and 57.6% full time, while 77.8% of females work part time and 42.4% full time. In Orkney, 21.0% of males work part time and 61.3% full time, while 79.0% of females work part time and 38.7% full time.

IMAGE: Two bar charts compare working hours by sex in Orkney and Scotland across 0 to 15 hours, 16 to 30 hours, 31 to 48 hours, and 49 or more hours. In both places, females are concentrated in the 16-to-48-hour categories, while males are concentrated in the 31-to-48-hour category.

Four industrial sectors make up nearly half of the employment market, with human health and social work being the largest sector, then the wholesale and repair trade, the agriculture forestry and fishing sector, and the repair of motor vehicles sector. The agriculture sector (9.2%) and the transport and storage sector (8%) are more important in Orkney compared to Scotland (1.6% and 4.9% respectively), with the finance and insurance activities sector being less important (1.2% in Orkney compared to 4.3% in Scotland). The agricultural sector is more important on the isles (20.5%) compared to mainland Orkney (2.9 - 9.8%).

IMAGE: A treemap titled “Proportion of people employed by industry sector”. The largest sectors are human health and social work activities (14.3%), wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (10.4%), agriculture, forestry and fishing (9.2%), construction (8.9%), transport and storage (8.0%), public administration and defence (8.0%), education (8.0%) and manufacturing (6.7%). Smaller sectors include accommodation and food services (5.7%), professional and technical activities (4.6%), administrative and support services (3.7%), other services (3.0%), arts and recreation (2.7%), mining and quarrying (1.6%), information and communication (1.5%), finance and insurance, real estate, electricity and other activities.

It is predicted that in the mid-term (2023 – 2026) the Orkney workforce will increase by 3.2% (compared to 2.2% for Scotland), and between 2026 and 2033 will decline by 0.9% (compared to a 0.9% increase for Scotland), with losses predicted to occur in the public administration and manufacturing sectors. Agriculture, forestry and fishing remains a dominant sector in Orkney.

Housing

The number of dwellings in Orkney has risen from 9,726 in 2006 to 11,719 in 2023. A lower proportion are occupied compared to Scotland, with more vacant and second homes.

The largest proportion of dwellings have between 3 and 5 bedrooms in Orkney.

The condition and affordability of housing stock are factors that influence human health. Similar to the rest of Scotland, based on the latest data (2018) many dwellings in Orkney required repairs of varying levels of significance.

Although Orkney house prices were historically significantly less than the Scottish median, Orkney house prices have risen at a similar rate to those in Scotland over time, with two marked increases in 2012 and 2017 bringing them closer to Scottish levels. The Office for National Statistics uses 5 times the disposable income as a measure of house purchase affordability. The 2022 the figure for Scotland was 4.78 times the disposable income for low house prices, 5.29 for mid-priced houses, and 5.87 for high priced houses (no figures are available for Orkney), indicating that housing is more affordable for those on lower incomes than those on mid and higher incomes.

IMAGE: A line chart compares median house prices in Orkney and Scotland from 2004 to 2023. Both increase over time; Orkney rises from approximately £65,000 to approximately £185,000, while Scotland rises from approximately £90,000 to approximately £185,000.

Living costs

Research into additional cost of food, clothing, travel, household goods and social participation associated with living on an island found variation between different demographic groups, with single pensioners and families with children facing the greatest additional living costs.

The above does not include household fuel costs. A significant proportion (31%) of Orkney households are also considered to be in fuel poverty, based on 2023 information. The Scottish Government definition of fuel poverty is that in order to maintain satisfactory heating, total fuel costs necessary for the home are more than 10% of the household's adjusted net income (after housing costs), and if after deducting fuel costs, benefits received for a care need or disability and childcare costs, the household's remaining adjusted net income is insufficient to maintain an acceptable standard of living. Extreme fuel poverty uses the same definition but 20% of net income.

Analysis of 2017 to 2019 data for the Scottish House Condition Survey found 22% of Orkney households were in extreme fuel poverty compared to 12% in Scotland. It also found that it would take a significant uplift in income to move households out of fuel poverty. This is likely to have been exacerbated by subsequent fuel price rises and the cost of living crises.

IMAGE: Three bar charts compare local authorities for the proportion of households in fuel poverty, the proportion in extreme fuel poverty, and the cost to lift a household out of fuel poverty. Orkney is highlighted at approximately 31% fuel poverty, approximately 22% extreme fuel poverty and approximately £1,650 to lift a household out of fuel poverty.

In relation to fuel for transport, comparison data is not available for petrol and diesel. However Orkney is one of the least expensive for slow charging an electric vehicle at a local authority owned charge point.

IMAGE: A bar chart titled “slow charge £/kwh” compares local-authority electric-vehicle charging costs. Orkney is highlighted at approximately £0.30 per kWh, among the lowest costs shown.

Transport

Although there is only one promoted cycle route in Orkney, there is an extensive road network managed by the Council. Mainland bus routes are run by Stagecoach with a community dial-a-bus service, as well as community bus services on Westray, Sanday and Hoy. Orkney is well connected with flights and ferries externally to mainland Scotland and also internally between the islands.

• one Sustrans promoted cycle route round mainland Orkney
• 10 public bus routes in mainland Orkney
• 3 island community bus services, plus mainland dial-a-bus service
• 13 services to isles, plus 4 routes to mainland Scotland
• 984.51km of public roads
• 6 routes to isles plus 4 connections to Scotland

Recreation opportunities

In addition to informal outdoor recreation opportunities on beaches, paths, public parks and play areas, Orkney is well served by 11 leisure or healthy living centres, 13 playing fields, and 6 public swimming pools. There are also a number of companies providing outdoor sports training and experiences.

IMAGE: A map of Orkney marking sports centres, play areas, the St Magnus Way and core paths.

Access to services

Based on 2018 data (the latest available), the time it takes to get to services such as a GP and post office are comparable across the mainland and isles, although travelling by public transport takes longer than by private car. Where disparities occur is in time taken to get to secondary school and to a retail centre, with residents on many of the isles facing a significantly longer travel times than mainland residents.

Data and information sources