About Us | Sutherland Planning Ltd

History

How Sutherland Planning came to be

Jim and Chris first met in 1981, when they both enrolled as students at Bristol Polytechnic (now the University of the West of England) studying BA (Hons) Town and Country Planning. After Polytechnic they went their separate ways and worked for local planning authorities in southern England, before moving into the private sector. Jim worked for several planning consultancies and a housebuilder, while Chris worked primarily for RPS (now part of Tetratech) for 34 years.

In 2021, Jim was made redundant, and Chris offered him a job as a Planning Director at RPS. They both left RPS / Tetratech in 2024, but in March 2026 Jim returned the favour and recruited Chris to work for Sutherland Property and Legal Services as a Senior Planning Associate.

When Amanda Sutherland decided, after 26 years, to step back from running her own company, Jim and Chris established Sutherland Planning Ltd together.

About Us

Local expertise. National understanding. Practical results.

Sutherland Planning Ltd was founded in July 2026 by Jim Bailey and Chris Lecointe, two town planning professionals, each with over 40 years' experience and with a shared commitment to high-quality, honest and accessible planning advice.

Meet the Directors

Two consultants. Over 80 years of combined experience.

You will work directly with one of us throughout your case — not a rotating team of case handlers.

Director

Jim Bailey

Jim Bailey started working as a Planning Advice Assistant at Rushmoor Council in 1986. After working as a Senior Planning Officer at Wokingham Council from 1987 to 1989, he moved into the private sector with Cliff Walsingham & Company in Farnborough, Hampshire from 1989 to 1992. In 1992, he joined Bryant Homes as a Senior Regional Planner, leaving in 1995 to set up his own small consultancy. In 1996, he joined DLP as a Senior Director, running their office in Berkshire. In 2011, he moved to Alliance Planning in Guildford, which merged with WYG in 2014. In 2017, he was recruited by Pegasus Planning in Bracknell, but the office was closed in 2021. Chris Lecointe recruited him as a Planning Director in the RPS office in Abingdon. RPS was bought by Tetratech in 2023. In 2024 he decided to go travelling. After several months off, he started working for Sutherland Property and Legal Services in Plymouth, and in July 2026 he set up Sutherland Planning Ltd with Chris Lecointe.

jim@sutherlandplanning.com

Director

Chris Lecointe

Chris Lecointe began his career with Southampton City Council in 1985, in the development control department. After a few years he decided to join the newly emerging private planning consultancy sector, in particular Chapman Warren in Wroughton near Swindon. He spent 3 years there and then moved to Oldfield King as a Director based in Bristol, then after another few years joined RPS in Oxfordshire. He was Operational Director at RPS (now Tetratech) for 17 years, looking after the Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Glasgow offices. He managed a multidisciplinary team and for the last ten years specialised in renewable and low carbon energy projects.

chris@sutherlandplanning.com

Why Choose Us

Why Choose Sutherland Planning Ltd

With backgrounds spanning local authority planning, private consultancy, rural and urban development, as well as major residential, mixed-use, energy and infrastructure projects, Jim and Chris bring a balanced and pragmatic perspective to every project. Their work is rooted in a detailed understanding of the planning system, coupled with a determination to achieve the best possible results for their clients.

We believe planning should be straightforward, transparent and solution-focused. Our role is to help you understand what's possible, what's required, and how to achieve the best outcome for your site.

Directors' Expertise

Every project is led by Jim Bailey or Chris Lecointe, ensuring senior-level input throughout.

Local Knowledge

Deep understanding of how planning officers and members operate.

Clear Communication

Straightforward advice, realistic expectations and no unnecessary jargon.

Tailored Solutions

Every client and every site is unique; our strategies reflect your goals, constraints and opportunities.

Reliable Outcomes

A track record of securing permissions for rural, residential, commercial and small to large-scale development.

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Independent planning advice, built on decades of experience.