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Conservation and listed buildings
Orkney has over 640 listed buildings, reflecting the rich history of the islands. There are 4 urban conservation areas, in Kirkwall, Stromness, St Margaret's Hope and Balfour Village, and 2 rural conservation areas, at Brodgar and Eynhallow.
Conservation advice
For advice on best conservation practice, contact our Historic Environment Officer within the Development and Marine Planning team.
For advice about a specific proposal to carry out works within a conservation area, or to a listed building, contact the Development Management Team on 01856 873535.
Conservation areas
We can designate areas of special architectural or historic interest as Conservation Areas, where the character or appearance is worth preserving or enhancing. We're responsible for ensuring new development is sympathetic to the special architectural and aesthetic qualities of these areas, particularly in terms of scale, design, materials and space between buildings. We're also required to keep a public list of all areas designated as conservation areas.
Related resources
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Kirkwall Conservation Area map
This document contains a map of the Kirkwall conservation area, showing its revised boundary from February 2014 onwards in blue and the former 1975–2014 boundary in red. It includes a north arrow, a scale of 1:2,500 and Ordnance Survey mapping for reference.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Stromness Conservation Area map
This document contains a map of the Stromness conservation area, showing its boundary and the location of listed buildings. Buildings are grouped by category, with separate markings for other buildings and listed buildings outside the conservation area. The map, dated 7 June 2011, notes that it doesn’t show the full grounds of listed buildings or highlight buildings within a group category.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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St Margaret's Hope Conservation Area map
This document contains a map of St Margaret’s Hope Conservation Area, showing its boundary, listed buildings and their categories. It also includes building names, roads, a scale and a note explaining that the map does not show the full extent of curtilage for listed buildings.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Balfour Conservation Area map
This document contains a map of the Balfour Conservation Area, showing its boundary, roads, buildings and listed buildings. Listed buildings are marked by category, with other buildings shown separately; the map is at a scale of 1:900.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Brodgar Conservation Area map
This document contains a map showing the boundary of the Brodgar Conservation Area. The red line marks the designated area around the shore of the loch and nearby land, roads and buildings. It was produced by Orkney Islands Council in 2009 using Ordnance Survey mapping.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Eynhallow Conservation Area map
This document contains a map showing the boundary of the Eynhallow Conservation Area in Orkney. The area is outlined in red, with nearby islands, coastline, land parcels and buildings shown for reference. The map is based on Ordnance Survey mapping and is dated 2009.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Listed buildings
For a building to be listed by Historic Environment Scotland, it must have special architectural or historic interest, based on set criteria, broadly:
- age and rarity
- architectural interest
- close historical association
Most buildings are listed following a comprehensive survey of an area, or as a result of a listing proposal. Historic Environment Scotland Designations Managers usually visit each property to assess it. Reasonable effort is made to contact owners and occupiers, though this isn't always possible, particularly for unoccupied buildings or those in multiple occupation or ownership, and isn't a legal requirement.
A building doesn't need to still serve its original purpose to be listed, for example, a former railway viaduct might now be a walkway, cycle path or wildlife sanctuary. The state of repair also isn't relevant to whether a building has special interest. "Building" is defined broadly in legislation, and can include walls, fountains, sundials, statues, bridges, milestones and telephone boxes.
What listing covers
Listing applies to the whole building or structure at the address on the list, covering both interior and exterior, regardless of category. We're responsible for deciding what's covered by a listing, including whether other structures at the address, such as boundary walls, gates, gate piers or outbuildings, are also covered. This is known as the curtilage of a listing.
We generally consider a structure to be within a listing's curtilage if:
- it was built before 1948
- it was in the same ownership as the main listed building at the time of listing
- it clearly relates to the main listed building's original function
- it's still related to the main listed building on the ground
Listing categories
Listed buildings are assigned one of 3 categories based on their relative importance. All listed buildings receive equal legal protection, covering both interior and exterior, regardless of category.
- Category A - buildings of national or international importance, either architectural or historic, or fine, little-altered examples of a particular period, style or building type
- Category B - buildings of regional or more than local importance, or major examples of a particular period, style or building type, which may have been altered
- Category C - buildings of local importance, lesser examples of any period, style or building type, as built or moderately altered, and simple traditional buildings that group well with Category A and B buildings
Altering a listed building
Listing doesn't prevent a building changing or developing, but its particular character must be considered. Any proposal to demolish, alter or extend a listed building in a way that would affect its character must be granted listed building consent before work begins. This applies to all listing categories, and to both interior and exterior work. We decide when proposed work is likely to affect a building's character.
Applications for listed building consent are made to us, rather than Historic Environment Scotland, except where we own the listed building ourselves and wish to make alterations. Your proposal may also need other consents, such as planning permission or a building warrant.
Alterations that may seem minor, such as stone cleaning, or altering or replacing windows or roof lights, may still need listed building consent. Major work, such as extensions, structural alterations, or partial or total demolition, is very likely to need consent.