Three major developments approved by OIC planning committee

Two planning applications for developments that will have a significant impact on the appearance of Kirkwall, and another that will affect Stromness town centre, were approved at a meeting of Orkney Islands Council (OIC) planning committee this morning.

The first was to change the use of Storehouse, on Bridge Street Wynd, from a storage warehouse into a restaurant and hotel, with a new three-story extension to be built.

The application, submitted by Judith Glue Ltd, was approved with five members of the committee following the authority planning department’s recommendation of approval, and four voting for a site visit.

The committee also approved the council’s own application for coastal flood defences along the town’s harbour front, from the bridge opposite Ayre Mills to St Catherine’s place.

The plans will see the walls in the area raised and a glass flood wall with a steel frame put in place at Kirkwall Harbour.

Also at this morning’s committee meeting, an application for the development of the area at the front of the Stromness Town House, submitted by the Stromness Community Council, was considered and approved.

The plans for the area will see it changed into a “community open space” with stone benches.

The area has been used for a stage during events such as Stromness shopping week, however the new developments will see the construction of a stage area to the north of the site instead.