Harbours public consultation events coming up

Public consultation events are being held next month, setting out proposals for a change of use of land at Crowness, Hatston.  

The two events are part of arrangements that must be put in place to consult with the public before major planning applications are submitted to the local planning authority.  

This includes submitting a Proposal of Application notice and holding at least one consultation event in the local area so that developers can take account of feedback before a planning application is submitted.  

The 11-hectare site is accessed from Grainshore Rd and is currently used as a laydown and storage area for nearby harbour operations.   Changing the use of the land through planning processes will allow for the site to be used for other purposes, effectively extending the operational land available to the Harbour Authority.  

The change of use would see the land move from non-operational agricultural use to Orkney Harbours operational use.   

This would be an important step in potentially extending operations at Hatston Pier, a project being taken through the planning process as part of the Council’s Harbours Masterplan Phase 1. 

The planning process is being managed by HRI Munro Architecture on behalf of Orkney Islands Council.  

The drop-in events are being held in Room 2 of the St Magnus Centre, Palace Road, Kirkwall, as follows: 

• Wednesday 8 July 2026 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm 

• Wednesday 22 July 2026 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm 

Details of the proposals will be available for viewing, and members of the project team will be on hand to answer any questions.  Feedback forms will also be available at the event, with feedback to be submitted by 17 August.  

It should be noted that feedback will not be treated as planning application representations, but is simply a method of gathering views, comments, and general input.  There is an opportunity to make representations to the Planning Authority when a Planning Application is made.