Share your views on Orkney’s future development

A consultation gets under way tomorrow, Wednesday, which the OIC says will help shape development across Orkney in the years ahead.

The council is seeking views and ideas which will feed into the next version of the county’s Local Development Plan (LDP) — a document to provide a vision on how communities will grow and develop in the future.

Orkney’s current plan provides planning information for individuals, communities and investors on where development should take place and where it should not – and on the supporting infrastructure which may be required. A new plan is due to be adopted by OIC in late 2016.

OIC Planning Manager Stuart West said: “The consultation, which runs for ten weeks, provides an important opportunity to ensure the plan best meets Orkney’s future needs.

“We hope people, groups, organisations and businesses will share their thoughts and comments and, more importantly, their vision and aspirations for the county’s future development. We will ensure there are plenty of ways to do this in the weeks ahead.”

As part of this process, the council has published a “main issues” report.

This highlights key changes that have occurred since the current plan was adopted. It also describes the development and land use issues likely to be of key importance to Orkney during the life of the next LDP. For each of these a preferred option is described, along with alternatives.

They include:

• Potential areas for larger-scale wind energy projects.
• The future development of settlements ranging from towns and villages to smaller groups of homes and businesses.
• Housing in the countryside.
• Housing design.
• Development around the coast and in local waters.

Mr West added: “The idea is to give an insight into the council’s thinking and stimulate debate. The feedback we receive will strongly influence the content of Orkney’s next Local Development Plan, ensuring effective planning policies are in place for future developments of all kinds across the islands.”

The main issues report is available online tomorrow, by following the link at www.orkney.gov.uk.  Paper copies are available at OIC customer services in Kirkwall, the Warehouse Buildings in Stromness, the Orkney Library and library vans.