Orkney Islands Council is holding a drop in event for members of the public to find out views on developing its planning guidance.

It will be held  at the King Street Halls, Kirkwall, on Wednesday 16th May from 12 noon to 6pm.

Susan Shearer, a senior planner with the Council said:

“The design advice we’re developing will help guide decisions on future planning applications,”

“We’re calling the event ‘Design: Fitting Housing into the Countryside’ – and we hope to gather a broad range of views and ideas.”

At the drop-in, feedback will be invited in response to four questions:

• What makes Orkney’s countryside distinctive?
• What design works well?
• What design doesn’t work so well?
• What is important to you in terms of design?

The Council will be assisted at the event by Architecture and Design Scotland, an organisation which helps people get more involved in shaping the places they live in and improving the design of the buildings they use.

Photo B Bell

Orkney has the highest number of empty houses in Scotland. You can read about that here: Orkney’s Empty Homes Officer Sets to Work