Copland's Road Housing Update

Elected Members at today’s (17 February) Policy and Resources Committee agreed to placing a new housing development at Copland’s Road in Stromness onto the Council’s Capital Programme. 

The proposed development will deliver 25 new general needs social rented homes, comprising a mix of one and two-bedroom properties across two site areas (North and South). 

The development includes a proportion of accessible homes, designed to support people with mobility or accessibility needs, and will deliver modern, energy-efficient housing that meets current design, space and energy standards. The project will provide high-quality, long-term housing to meet identified local demand in Stromness.

Preparatory procurement activity for the main works is underway with the appointed contractor responsible for progressing the planning and building warrant applications, building on pre-application engagement and agreed site layouts.  The opportunity was advertised prior to Christmas, with tender documentation issued on 30 January 2026 and a tender return date of 6 March 2026.

The recommendation of Policy and Resources will now go to the General Meeting of the Council on 10 March.

Additional context

On 10 September 2025, the Education, Leisure and Housing Committee recommended approval of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) for the period 2026/2027 to 2030/2031, which sets out the requirement for new housing supply over the next 10 years in Orkney, including a total housing supply target of approximately 103 new homes each year in Orkney, of which 60 homes per year are to be affordable housing.

Provision for affordable housing to be delivered through a combination of the Council, Orkney Housing Association Limited (OHAL), Places for People Scotland, and Development Trusts, alongside private sector developers.