Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Orkney

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Orkney is 5.6% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

7,933 real decisions·8 project types·Updated March 2026
100.0%
Safest: Conservatory
94.4%
Lowest: Flat Conversion
5.6%
Spread
8
Types ranked

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All 8 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory41410
100.0%
2Annex42420
100.0%
3Outbuilding87685521
97.6%
4Dormer36351
97.2%
5Change of Use (Residential)48647214
97.1%
6Extension (General)1331285
96.2%
7Garage / Parking1,0481,00543
95.9%
8Flat Conversion54513
94.4%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 100.0% approval rate. Flat Conversion? Just 94.4%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 94.4% to 100.0%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.
2
Visibility drives scrutiny. Project types that change the external appearance — dormers, loft conversions, hip-to-gable — face more resistance than those that don't. The more visible your proposal, the more carefully it needs designing.
3
These are council-wide averages. Your ward, your street and your immediate neighbours all shift the odds. The comparable decisions near your property are the best indicator of outcome.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

318 planning applications in Orkney have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Orkney planning data

Methodology: Classifies 7,933 decisions in Orkney into residential project types using keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py subtype rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Data from Orkney Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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