A new appraisal of Orkney’s two main conservation areas is getting underway as surveys begin in Kirkwall and Stromness over the coming weeks.
The work will be carried out entirely from the public realm, meaning no access to private land is required at any stage of the process.
Survey teams will be photographing streets, buildings and key properties while completing detailed assessments of the character and condition of both conservation areas.
The appraisals are intended to support the long term protection of the towns’ historic and architectural features while helping to inform future planning and development decisions.
Conservation areas are designated by the council in line with national legislation and recognise places of special architectural or historic interest whose character or appearance is considered worth preserving or enhancing.
In Orkney, these designations reflect the distinctive scale, materials and layout of settlements that have evolved over centuries in response to landscape, climate and local craft traditions.
Regular appraisal is a statutory requirement and ensures conservation areas remain properly understood rather than being treated as frozen or untouchable spaces.
The process helps planning officers assess how proposed developments may affect the wider setting, ensuring new work respects the established character of an area.
This includes consideration of building scale, design, materials, rooflines and the spaces between buildings, all of which play a role in how a conservation area feels and functions.
Urban conservation area maps are available to assist with planning applications and show the boundaries of designated areas across Orkney.
In Kirkwall, the conservation area boundary was revised in February 2014, with maps showing both the previous and current boundaries available for public reference.
These maps are large files designed to show detail clearly, and residents experiencing difficulties accessing them are encouraged to contact the planning team for assistance.
Alongside Kirkwall and Stromness, conservation areas across Orkney include Balfour, St Margaret’s Hope, Brodgarand Eynhallow, each reflecting different aspects of the islands’ built heritage.
Properties within conservation areas may also be subject to additional consent requirements, including conservation area consent or listed building consent, depending on the nature of proposed works.
Guidance on these requirements is available through the council’s planning service, helping property owners understand their responsibilities and options.
The council has a legal duty to maintain a public register of conservation areas, ensuring transparency and public access to information about how these areas are protected.
Officials say the current appraisals are about understanding change rather than preventing it, recognising that conservation areas must remain living places rather than museum pieces.
For residents and businesses in Kirkwall and Stromness, the reviews offer reassurance that the distinctive character of both towns will continue to be carefully considered as Orkney evolves.
