Delay on planning application decisions

Orkney Islands Council has advised that there are currently unavoidable delays in a decisions being made on planning applications

The Council is significantly short staffed within some of the service teams who are routinely asked to comment on planning applications. Their advice on a planning applications is vital as it ensures certain public safety elements of developments – and therefore decisions can’t be made without their input.

Due to the staff shortages, it is taking much longer for this advice to be provided. A backlog of applications are being worked through - but this does mean that the usual eight week decision target is not being met at present

Hayley Green is the Council’s Corporate Director for Neigbourhood Services and Infrastructure.  She said: “We understand the situation is frustrating and I apologise to those who have been awaiting a decision.  

“We are working across the Council to see if we can bring in some temporary support and we are also actively recruiting, but it will unfortunately take some time before we see the practical impact of any additional staff on this backlog.

“In the meantime, applicants should be assured that we are doing our best to make decisions as quickly as we can.”