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Criteria

Each application is considered based on it's merits and how well it meets local objectives based on the following plans and priorities:-

  • Orkney Council Plan Strategic Priorities - for communities that are:
    • Connected - integrating superior carbon-neutral transport with marine infrastructure and development.
    • Enterprising – promoting innovative projects that support each other to deliver island services to residents, businesses, and visitors.
  • Orkney Local Development Plan - policies and supplementary guidance that
    • Facilitate best practice for all island developments
    • Support green infrastructure
    • Consider the integrity of natural heritage, land and seascapes
    • Integrate land and marine planning in coastal development decisions
    • Maximise social, environmental, and economic resilience
  • Scotland’s National Marine Plan and Pilot Pentland Firth Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan and the Orkney Regional Marine Plan (upon 2024 publication) principles to guide:
    • Sustainable development in appropriate areas
    • Balanced approach to managing human activities with regard for environmental protection and climate change adaptation
    • Opportunities for multiple use of marine space by different users
    • Involvement and collaboration with partners and citizens
  • Orkney Sustainable Energy Strategy - ambitions for: 
    • Achieving carbon-neutral targets
    • Encouraging Orkney’s legacy for energy innovations
    • Enabling economic investment that adds value to the wider Orkney community
  • Orkney Biodiversity Duties and the Local Biodiversity Action Plan - that address:
    • Ecologically unique features and their conservation
    • Incorporating biodiversity across Orkney plans and policies
    • Investment in natural capital and ecosystem restoration
    • Monitoring, recording and sharing findings among commercial, scientific, NGO and citizens’ groups
    • Community partnerships that can contribute to national and international objectives
    • Regulatory mechanisms that support, mitigate and enforce environmental protection
    • Support for education projects and workshops
  • National Islands Plan - Strategic Objectives aimed at improving and contributing to: 
    • Sustainable economic development
    • Community resilience
    • Environmental wellbeing and biosecurity
    • Climate change mitigation/ adaptation and energy security