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Devland5

Development Planning (Land)

Team Manager: Derek Manson 

Orkney Local Development Plan 2017

Development Plans set out a vision for how areas will change and describe where development will take place and where it will not. Planning applications are assessed against the development plan.

The Scottish Parliament approved National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) on 11 January 2023. NPF4 has now formally been adopted by Scottish Minister on 13 February 2023.

Orkney’s development plan now consists of the following:

  • NPF4
  • Local Development Plan (online, interactive plan)
  • Supplementary Guidance associated with the Orkney Local Development Plan 2017 (Settlement Statements, Housing in the Countryside, Energy, Natural Environment, Historic Environment and Cultural Heritage and Aquaculture.

From 13 February 2023 planning applications will be assessed against the above. Where policies in NPF4 contradict those in the Orkney Local Development Plan 2017 and its associated Supplementary Guidance then NPF4, as the most recent plan, will take precedence.

Help shape the next Local Development Plan and find out more about this process