A public consultation event was held in Kirkwall on Wednesday 16th May at Kings St Halls with its focus on future house planning in the countryside.

Views which have already been collected were pinned up on boards and those attending could add their ideas to them.

Susan Shearer, a senior planner with Orkney Islands 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.”

Feedback is 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 is working with 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.

You can still contribute your views by emailing: susan.shearer@orkney.gov.uk