Shetland Council approves 98.2% of planning applications, based on 7,709 decisions from the council’s public planning portal. The national approval rate across the councils PlanningLens tracks is 87.43%. Shetland is 10.7 percentage points above that rate.
According to PlanningLens analysis of 361 decided applications, Shetland Council approved 98.3% of planning applications in 2025. Across 7,709 decisions on record (February 1998 to October 2026), the overall approval rate in Shetland is 98.2%; the national approval rate across the councils PlanningLens tracks is 87.43%.
Source: PlanningLens (planninglens.co.uk) analysis of Shetland council planning portal records · Data to 14 October 2026 · Quote freely with attribution
Enter your postcode to see approval patterns for your ward and application type.
This table counts every decided application in Shetland, including types that the headline rate leaves out, so its totals are larger than the headline figure.
| Application Type | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 3,836 | 75 | 3,911 | 98.1% |
| Full | 3,197 | 56 | 3,253 | 98.3% |
| Discharge of Conditions | 791 | 7 | 798 | 99.1% |
| Prior Approval | 541 | 5 | 546 | 99.1% |
| Listed Building | 295 | 4 | 299 | 98.7% |
| Advertisement | 174 | 0 | 174 | 100.0% |
| Trees | 65 | 0 | 65 | 100.0% |
| Certificate of Lawfulness | 27 | 10 | 37 | 73.0% |
The free check shows approval patterns for your postcode. The property report follows by email.
Check my postcodeWard-level data reveals where planning applications are most and least likely to succeed. Officers, local policies, and neighbourhood character all play a role.
| Ward | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lerwick | 370 | 4 | 374 | 98.9% |
| Tingwall, Whiteness & Weisdale | 136 | 3 | 139 | 97.8% |
| Dunrossness | 127 | 4 | 131 | 96.9% |
| Delting | 130 | 0 | 130 | 100.0% |
| Gulberwick, Quarff & Cunningsburgh | 96 | 4 | 100 | 96.0% |
| Sandness & Walls | 68 | 4 | 72 | 94.4% |
| Scalloway | 60 | 0 | 60 | 100.0% |
| Sandwick | 57 | 1 | 58 | 98.3% |
| Burra & Trondra | 56 | 1 | 57 | 98.2% |
| Aithsting & Sandsting | 57 | 0 | 57 | 100.0% |
| Whalsay | 50 | 0 | 50 | 100.0% |
| Yell | 46 | 0 | 46 | 100.0% |
| Northmavine | 45 | 0 | 45 | 100.0% |
| Nesting & Lunnasting | 43 | 2 | 45 | 95.6% |
| Unst | 42 | 2 | 44 | 95.5% |
| Bressay | 16 | 1 | 17 | 94.1% |
How Shetland’s planning approval rate has changed year by year, up 0.1pp since 2018.
Bar height reflects approval rate. Colour: green ≥85%, amber ≥70%, red below 70%.
Each reference links to the record on the council’s planning portal.
| Reference | Proposal | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/166/LBC Sandwick | Works to dormer windows including removal of existing leadwork, replacement of t | Approved |
| 2026/108/PPF Lerwick | Proposed demolition of the existing masonry garage and shed to construct a singl | Approved |
| 2026/147/PPF Nesting & Lunnasting | Erection of single storey dwellinghouse with attached workshop and ASHP, formati | Approved |
| 2026/164/PPF Lerwick | Erection of a replacement 28m high galvanised steel lattice radio mast upon whic | Approved |
| 2026/176/PPF Delting | Erection of single storey dwellinghouse with integral double garage, with ASHP a | Approved |
| 2026/197/CLUP Lerwick | Would we require permission to change the colour of our roof that requires refur | Refused |
| 2026/148/PPF Lerwick | Erection of a shunt reactor, 2.4-metre-high fence with vehicular access gates; e | Approved |
| 2026/136/PPF Nesting & Lunnasting | Single storey extension to north elevation of existing house to accommodate new | Approved |
| 2026/119/LBC Tingwall, Whiteness & Weisdale | Replace all existing double glazed sash and case windows with Nordan triple glaz | Approved |
| 2026/139/LBC Lerwick | Alterations to former hostel building including removal of chimneys, reinstateme | Approved |
See what has been approved and refused near your address. The property report covers the 20 nearest decisions, refusal patterns in your ward and approval rates by project type, drawn from Shetland's 7,709 decisions.
Check my postcodeCompare Shetland's planning approval rates with neighbouring areas:
More council comparisons coming soon.
Dig deeper into Shetland's planning statistics, by ward, extension type, or project category:
Data-driven guides to help you understand planning approval patterns:
Yes. PlanningLens offers a free planning permission check for Shetland. Enter your postcode to instantly see approval rates for your ward and application type, based on 7,709 real decisions from Shetland council. The full property-specific report is also free and emailed within minutes.
Enter your postcode on PlanningLens for a free instant check based on Shetland's real planning decisions. The free property report goes further: it analyses the 20 nearest comparable decisions to your property, ward-level refusal patterns, and approval rates by application type. Free and emailed within minutes.
Based on 7,709 planning decisions, the overall approval rate in Shetland is 98.2%. The national approval rate across the councils PlanningLens tracks is 87.43%.
PlanningLens has analysed 7,709 planning decisions from Shetland council. 7,568 were approved and 141 were refused. These figures cover every decision on record for the council, February 1998 to October 2026.
The average approval rate in Shetland is 98.2%, but outcomes depend heavily on your specific ward, the type of extension or development you are proposing, and local planning policy. Use the free PlanningLens postcode check to get a personalised score.
Writing about planning in Shetland? These figures are free to republish with attribution. Copy the one-line citation, or paste the stat box into any website, CMS or newsletter, it carries its own styling and links back to this page for verification.