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Review of the Orkney Local Development Plan
We're preparing a new Orkney Local Development Plan, shaped by the aspirations and ambitions of communities across Orkney. We're aiming to adopt the new plan by 2027.
We publish a newsletter each year during the review, setting out the process and anticipated timescales for each stage.
Public engagement in this process matters. The new Local Development Plan will influence how Orkney's towns, villages and countryside change in future. This includes where development should and shouldn't happen, where new homes and businesses will be built, how services and facilities like schools and active travel are provided, and which places and buildings we value and want to protect.
Until the new Local Development Plan is in place, planning applications will continue to be assessed against the existing Development Plan.
If you have comments on the Participation Statement in the newsletter, or would like to join our mailing list to stay up to date, email devplan@orkney.gov.uk.
Evidence Report
The Orkney Local Development Plan Evidence Report was submitted to the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) for Gatecheck, an independent assessment of whether the evidence base is sufficient to prepare the new plan.
We've been notified by the Reporter that the updated Evidence Report is sufficient, and work is now underway to prepare the Proposed Plan.
We've also prepared the following documents alongside the Evidence Report.
Related resources
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OIC LDP Scoping Report
This document contains the Strategic Environmental Assessment scoping report for Orkney’s Local Development Plan, covering 2027 to 2037. It sets out the environmental information, objectives and scoring method that will be used to assess the plan’s effects on climate, air, water, soil, resources, biodiversity, landscape, heritage, population and health. It also considers alternatives, mitigation, cumulative effects and links with other plans. The report seeks advice from consultation authorities before the draft plan and environmental report are consulted on.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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SEPA Scoping Response
This document contains the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s response to Orkney Islands Council’s environmental assessment scoping report for its Local Development Plan, dated 27 November 2024. It recommends improving environmental baseline information, including flooding and climate change risks, adding a strategic flood risk assessment, and assessing all reasonable alternatives and environmental topics. It also advises clearly explaining assessment results, linking impacts to mitigation, setting out monitoring arrangements, and showing how consultation comments were considered; it supports a 12-week consultation period for the Environmental Report.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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NatureScot Scoping Response
This document contains NatureScot’s response to Orkney Islands Council’s environmental assessment scoping report for the Local Development Plan. NatureScot supports the proposed scope, detail and 12-week consultation period. It recommends improvements covering climate change adaptation, peatland and soils, biodiversity, green and nature networks, minerals, energy infrastructure and environmental data. It also identifies missing protected areas, asks for clearer information on their condition, and suggests correcting the annex numbering.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Historic Environment Scotland Scoping Response
This document contains Historic Environment Scotland’s response to Orkney Islands Council’s environmental assessment scoping report for the Local Development Plan. It supports the proposed scope, method and minimum 12-week consultation period, while noting that more information is needed on undesignated historic assets and monitoring measures. It also suggests updated policy references and model objectives covering protection, reuse, climate resilience, access and enjoyment of the historic environment.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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OIC Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
This document contains Orkney Islands Council’s Stage 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, prepared to support the next Local Development Plan. It maps and reviews flood risks from coastal and river flooding, surface water, erosion and other sources, including the effects of climate change. Coastal flooding is identified as Orkney’s main risk, with guidance to avoid development in flood risk areas and use measures such as sustainable drainage and natural flood management. A later Stage 2 assessment will examine specific development sites.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Play Sufficiency Assessment
As part of our evidence gathering, we're required to submit a Play Sufficiency Assessment (PSA) to the Scottish Government, assessing whether there's a sufficient level of formal and informal play space for children across our communities, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Between May and September 2024, we ran a Play Space Survey, gathering the views of Orkney's young people (aged 0-18) on the play and hang-out space available to them. This helps identify opportunities to improve play spaces in our communities, and will inform the policy approach to protecting play spaces in the new Local Development Plan.
Call for Ideas and Land Submission
Call for Ideas was an early stage of the review, open to businesses, community groups, members of the public, developers, landowners, builders, interest groups and key agencies, gathering thoughts and ideas about Orkney's communities. This consultation is now closed, and responses are being analysed.
As part of this, we invited submissions of land for consideration as potential development sites. This included land already allocated in the 2017 Plan, landowners, agents and developers were asked to provide up to date information to allow continued inclusion to be considered. Land in the 2017 Plan won't automatically carry forward into the new plan, it'll be considered alongside newly submitted sites.
All comments and land submissions are assessed by Development and Marine Planning and reported to Elected Members, and will be reported in full to the Scottish Government through the Evidence Report and Examination. Names and addresses are kept confidential. Submission of land doesn't guarantee allocation in the new plan.
We expect to spend much of 2025 mapping, recording and assessing all submitted land allocations, with a view to producing a new Local Development Plan in 2027.
Self-Build List
A self-build house is one where an individual, alone or with others, commissions or is personally involved in the design and construction of a home that's intended to be their main residence once built. You can project manage the build yourself using sub-contractors, or use one contractor for a turnkey solution, it's your choice.
We want to support more high quality, affordable and sustainable homes in the right locations, meeting the diverse housing needs of Orkney's communities.
How the list is used
Understanding demand for self-provided housing helps inform our plan-making and decision-taking. The list of people registered as interested in acquiring land for self-provided housing is monitored alongside broader housing market data, helping to inform policies and proposals in the Local Development Plan.
Signing up helps us understand demand for self-build plots in Orkney, including where people would like their plot to be located and the type of house they'd like to build. We'll use this information to explore ways to bring people and plots together, though registering doesn't guarantee a suitable plot will be identified or become available.
To keep the list current, we'll update it every 2 to 3 years, and contact you to check whether you'd like to remain on it. If you no longer need a self-build plot, contact us at any time to be removed.
Publication of the list
Under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, we're required to publish the list in a manner we consider appropriate, including online. In line with data protection, your personal details, other than your name, will be removed before the list is published or updated online.