Duncan Cartlidge Online

Hosted by Duncan Cartlidge FRICS

Business NewsInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

About the show

Duncan Cartlidge is a Chartered Surveyor with more than 40 years experience in the construction industry in the UK and Europe including extensive experience in the delivery and management of built assets as well as providing education and training to a wide range of construction professionals and contractors. Author of several best-selling books including:The Quantity Surveyor's Pocket Book, The Construction Project Manager's Pocket Book and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying. Duncan Cartlidge Online discusses and reviews a range of contemporary construction related topics. Duncan Cartlidge FRICS www.duncancartlidgeonline.com

Listen to episodes

47 recent

May 27, 2026Episode 1717 min

Why is civil engineering so expensive in the UK?

duncancartlidgeonline : Insights for construction professionals. If you work in the construction industry, then the duncancartlidgeonline podcast is an essential source of information. Established in 2020, duncancartlidgeonline, has over 9 hours of video presentations on quantity surveying (taking off quantities/quantity takeoffs), construction management, estimating, project management and cost advice and all for £7 a month which includes online support. Over the last two seasons of podcasts duncancartlidgeonline have kept construction professionals, including quantity surveyors, construction managers and project managers up to date with the latest developments in the construction industry and the professions. Topics have included; extensions of time, latent and patent defects, construction claims, planning approval delays, skills shortages and much more. The third season continues with more insights on current issues. And then of course there is my favourite super hero Mothman, intrigued? You'll have to download to learn more. Duncan Cartlidge is a fellow of the RICS with over 50 years experience in UK and European construction projects. In addition he is the author of several best selling books including, the Quantity Surveyor's Pocketbook 4th edition, The Construction Project Manager's Pocketbook 3rd edition and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice 5th edition. Podcasts are recorded in the company of my red labrador Barney, who keeps his eye on proceedings. In this podcast Duncan Cartlidge examines, Why is civil engineering work so mind-blowing expensive in the UK? Banning retention won't work and Justice for Grenfell. I hope that you've enjoyed this podcast from duncancartlidgeonline. Barney and I would really appreciated it you could find the time to write a review and spread the word. Untill next time - take care. www.duncancartlidgeonline.com Insights for construction professionals

April 28, 2026Episode 1618 min

Get it right first time / AI in the dock

duncancartlidgeonline : Insights for construction professionals. If you work in the construction industry, then the duncancartlidgeonline podcast is an essential source of information. Established in 2020, duncancartlidgeonline, has over 9 hours of video presentations on quantity surveying (taking off quantities/quantity takeoffs), construction management, estimating, project management and cost advice and all for £7 a month which includes online support. Over the last two seasons of podcasts duncancartlidgeonline have kept construction professionals, including quantity surveyors, construction managers and project managers up to date with the latest developments in the construction industry and the professions. Topics have included; extensions of time, latent and patent defects, construction claims, planning approval delays, skills shortages and much more. The third season continues with more insights on current issues. And then of course there is my favourite super hero Mothman, intrigued? You'll have to download to learn more. Duncan Cartlidge is a fellow of the RICS with over 50 years experience in UK and European construction projects. In addition he is the author of several best selling books including, the Quantity Surveyor's Pocketbook 4th edition, The Construction Project Manager's Pocketbook 3rd edition and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice 5th edition. Podcasts are recorded in the company of my red labrador Barney, who keeps his eye on proceedings. In this episode Duncan Cafrtlidge discusses It's no surprise that the UK construction industry generates a lot of waste. At least 5 million tonnes of construction waste still end up in landfill sites across the UK each year. However, some of the waste is unavoidable and that is waste due to errors. Construction errors cost the UK construction industry billions of pounds every single year some estimates putting it at around £10 billion. Across the construction industry, errors are estimated to cost up to £25bn annually, or around 21% of total project value, according to the Get It Right Initiative. As technology and particularly AI becomes more embedded in safety-critical and high-hazard environments, assurance must keep pace. Reducing errors in construction also means reducing the risk of errors introduced by the tools themselves and now UK construction disputes have been identified as may be particularly well suited to AI facilitation. I hope that you've enjoyed this podcast from duncancartlidgeonline. Barney and I would really appreciated it you could find the time to write a review and spread the word. Untill next time - take care. www.duncancartlidgeonline.com Insights for construction professionals

April 18, 2026Episode 1517 min

Dayworks: their place in valuing variations

duncancartlidgeonline : Insights for construction professionals. If you work in the construction industry, then the duncancartlidgeonline podcast is an essential source of information. Established in 2020, duncancartlidgeonline, has over 9 hours of video presentations on quantity surveying (taking off quantities/quantity takeoffs), construction management, estimating, project management and cost advice and all for £7 a month which includes online support. Over the last two seasons of podcasts duncancartlidgeonline have kept construction professionals, including quantity surveyors, construction managers and project managers up to date with the latest developments in the construction industry and the professions. Topics have included; extensions of time, latent and patent defects, construction claims, planning approval delays, skills shortages and much more. The third season continues with more insights on current issues. And then of course there is my favourite super hero Mothman, intrigued? You'll have to download to learn more. Duncan Cartlidge is a fellow of the RICS with over 50 years experience in UK and European construction projects. In addition he is the author of several best selling books including, the Quantity Surveyor's Pocketbook 4th edition, The Construction Project Manager's Pocketbook 3rd edition and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice 5th edition. Podcasts are recorded in the company of my red labrador Barney, who keeps his eye on proceedings. In this episode Duncan Cartlidge will be discussing; Valuing changes in quantity or quality of work rarely poses problems whereas disputes can occur over the disruptive effect caused by variations which may require compare timings in the programme. Many contracts provide for the value of the varied work to be agreed before the issue of the instruction Section 5 of JCT(24) deals with the definition and measurement of variations, including the use of dayworks. And a cautionary tale about the PFI. It appears that the words PFI and controversial are inextricably linked. I'm broadly a fan of PFI but this week there was a story from my home town about PFI deals coming to an end. I hope that you enjoyed this podcast from duncancartlidgeonline. Barney and I would really appreciated it you could find the time to write a review and spread the word. Untill next time - take care. www.duncancartlidgeonline.com Insights for construction professionals

March 10, 2026Episode 1417 min

Retention revision and New double act at the RICS

duncancartlidgeonline : Insights for construction professionals. If you work in the construction industry, then the duncancartlidgeonline podcast is an essential source of information. Established in 2020, duncancartlidgeonline, has over 9 hours of video presentations on quantity surveying (taking off quantities/quantity takeoffs), construction management, estimating, project management and cost advice and all for £7 a month which includes online support. Over the last two seasons of podcasts duncancartlidgeonline have kept construction professionals, including quantity surveyors, construction managers and project managers up to date with the latest developments in the construction industry and the professions. Topics have included; extensions of time, latent and patent defects, construction claims, planning approval delays, skills shortages and much more. The third season continues with more insights on current issues. And then of course there is my favourite super hero Mothman, intrigued? You'll have to download to learn more. Duncan Cartlidge is a fellow of the RICS with over 50 years experience in UK and European construction projects. In addition he is the author of several best selling books including, the Quantity Surveyor's Pocketbook 4th edition, The Construction Project Manager's Pocketbook 3rd edition and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice 5th edition. Podcasts are recorded in the company of my red labrador Barney, who keeps his eye on proceedings. In this episode, Nearly 32 years after Sir Michael Latham concluded in his landmark report, Constructing the Team, that the practice of holding back money as security against defective or unfinished work was not working as intended, it is set to be consigned to the dustbin of history You've heard of the Crankies, Little and Large and not forgetting the Chuckle Brothers, well according to Building a new double act is about to tread the boards at the RICS, yes give it up for MacClean (that's mothman's replacement) and Young. PFI – what is going on? Cost modelling high rise buildings and Geopolitics: What impact is the war in Iran having on construction? I hope that you've enjoyed this podcast from duncancartlidgeonline. Barney and I would really appreciated it you could find the time to write a review and spread the word. Untill next time - take care. www.duncancartlidgeonline.com Insights for construction professionals

March 4, 2026Episode 1318 min

UK Construction 2026:plus ça change plus c'est la même chose!

duncancartlidgeonline : Insights for construction professionals. If you work in the construction industry, then the duncancartlidgeonline podcast is an essential source of information. Established in 2020, duncancartlidgeonline, has over 9 hours of video presentations on quantity surveying (taking off quantities/quantity takeoffs), construction management, estimating, project management and cost advice and all for £7 a month which includes online support. Over the last two seasons of podcasts duncancartlidgeonline have kept construction professionals, including quantity surveyors, construction managers and project managers up to date with the latest developments in the construction industry and the professions. Topics have included; extensions of time, latent and patent defects, construction claims, planning approval delays, skills shortages and much more. The third season continues with more insights on current issues. And then of course there is my favourite super hero Mothman, intrigued? You'll have to download to learn more. Duncan Cartlidge is a fellow of the RICS with over 50 years experience in UK and European construction projects. In addition he is the author of several best selling books including, the Quantity Surveyor's Pocketbook 4th edition, The Construction Project Manager's Pocketbook 3rd edition and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice 5th edition. Podcasts are recorded in the company of my red labrador Barney, who keeps his eye on proceedings. In this episode Duncan Cartlidge looks at: Three recent reports by the CITB, the CIOB and the ONS sheds light on the current state of the UK construction industry. Last month the CITB (The Construction Industry Training Board) published its overview of the UK construction industry in 2026 and it didn't make for very encouraging reading. The CITB is of course at the sharp end as far as skills and training is concerned. The report didn't pull its punches describing construction as a sector that has remained largely unchanged for decades. The challenges construction is facing tell the story of an industry at a crossroads – continue in the same way and fall short or alternatively invest in people and innovation to secure the future. It's MIPIM time. I had an e mail this week telling me that I could not afford to miss MIPIM 2026. For those who don't know MIPIM is a is a 4 day jolly sorry, real estate fair, held every year in March at Cannes in the south of France. I hope that you'll enjoyed this podcast from duncancartlidgeonline. Barney and I would really appreciated it you could find the time to write a review and spread the word. Untill next time - take care. www.duncancartlidgeonline.com Insights for construction professionals

February 25, 2026Episode 1213 min

Collaboration in construction, how far have we come?

February 6, 2026Episode 1118 min

Completion & retention and if you're sitting comfortably, I'll begin.

duncancartlidgeonline Insights for construction professionals. If you work in the construction industry, then the duncancartlidgeonline podcast is an essential source of information. Established in 2020, duncancartlidgeonline, has over 9 hours of video presentations on quantity surveying (taking off quantities/quantity takeoffs), construction management, estimating, project management and cost advice and all for £7 a month which includes online support. Over the last two seasons of podcasts duncancartlidgeonline have kept construction professionals, including quantity surveyors, construction managers and project managers up to date with the latest developments in the construction industry and the professions. Topics have included; extensions of time, latent and patent defects, construction claims, planning approval delays, skills shortages and much more. The third season continues with more insights on current issues. And then of course there is my favourite super hero Mothman, intrigued? You'll have to download to learn more. Duncan Cartlidge is a fellow of the RICS with over 50 years experience in UK and European construction projects. In addition he is the author of several best selling books including, the Quantity Surveyor's Pocketbook 4th edition, The Construction Project Manager's Pocketbook 3rd edition and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice 5th edition. Podcasts are recorded in the company of my red labrador Barney, who keeps his eye on proceedings. In this latest episode the ways in which AI distorts the truth are discussed with particular reference to ChatGPT and my profile. Also included is a brief review of the current state of the construction and labour market before concluding with a detailed look at how to deal with practical completion and retention. I hope that you've enjoyed this podcast from duncancartlidgeonline. Barney and I would really appreciate it you could find the time to write a review and spread the word. Until next time - take care. www.duncancartlidgeonline.com Insights for construction professionals

January 25, 2026Episode 1016 min

Cash flow, project management and 007.

duncancartlidgeonline : Insights for construction professionals. If you work in the construction industry, then the duncancartlidgeonline podcast is an essential source of information. Established in 2020, duncancartlidgeonline, has over 9 hours of video presentations on quantity surveying (taking off quantities/quantity takeoffs), construction management, estimating, project management and cost advice and all for £7 a month which includes online support. Over the last two seasons of podcasts duncancartlidgeonline have kept construction professionals, including quantity surveyors, construction managers and project managers up to date with the latest developments in the construction industry and the professions. Topics have included; extensions of time, latent and patent defects, construction claims, planning approval delays, skills shortages and much more. The third season continues with more insights on current issues. And then of course there is my favourite super hero Mothman, intrigued? You'll have to download to learn more. Duncan Cartlidge is a fellow of the RICS with over 50 years experience in UK and European construction projects. In addition he is the author of several best selling books including, the Quantity Surveyor's Pocketbook 4th edition, The Construction Project Manager's Pocketbook 3rd edition and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice 5th edition. Podcasts are recorded in the company of my red labrador Barney, who keeps his eye on proceedings. In this latest episode the problem of maintaining cashflow is discussed in the light of the Supreme Court ruling in the long running case of Hexagon Housing Association and Provident Building Services and discusses just what are a contractor's rights if clients do not pay applications of interim payments on time. Carrying on from a previous episode and careers in the construction industry the roles and responsibilities of a project manager are explored as well as the career opportunities for project managers in construction. Finally, a light-hearted look at the 007 site manager. I hope that you've enjoyed this podcast from duncancartlidgeonline. Barney and I would really appreciated it you could find the time to write a review and spread the word. Until next time - take care. www.duncancartlidgeonline.com Insights for construction professionals

January 14, 2026Episode 912 min

Special - Is a career in construction a good idea ?

duncancartlidgeonline : Insights for construction professionals. If you work in the construction industry, then the duncancartlidgeonline podcast is an essential source of information. Established in 2020, duncancartlidgeonline, has over 9 hours of video presentations on quantity surveying (taking off quantities/quantity takeoffs), construction management, estimating, project management and cost advice and all for £7 a month which includes online support. Over the last two seasons of podcasts duncancartlidgeonline have kept construction professionals, including quantity surveyors, construction managers and project managers up to date with the latest developments in the construction industry and the professions. Topics have included; extensions of time, latent and patent defects, construction claims, planning approval delays, skills shortages and much more. The third season continues with more insights on current issues. And then of course there is my favourite super hero Mothman, intrigued? You'll have to download to learn more. Duncan Cartlidge is a fellow of the RICS with over 50 years experience in UK and European construction projects. In addition he is the author of several best selling books including, the Quantity Surveyor's Pocketbook 4th edition, The Construction Project Manager's Pocketbook 3rd edition and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice 5th edition. Podcasts are recorded in the company of my red labrador Barney, who keeps his eye on proceedings. This special episode asks the question: Is a career in construction a good idea ? There has been a lot recently about medics complaining and taking strike action over their pay. But medics are not to only ones to endure long periods of training in the hope of high salaries in the future. LinkedIn is full of posts from recruiters both in the UK and worldwide asking for quantity surveyors. However, quite a few people on the same site have commented that this shortage is mainly due to low salaries which has failed to attract people, for what can be a very demanding career It takes six years minimum to become a member of the RICS and seven years minimum for an architect to be registered with the RIBA and five-six years to become a member of the CIOB. In reality it takes many longer that that. Against this salaries for mid-career construction professionals are around £60k and for mid-career architects around £50k although of course people do earn more than this, but is this sufficient for all that study and potential student debt? The RICS has recently commented that the shortage of quantity surveyors is as much a problem and the shortage of bricklayers and plasterers, is it any wonder? Duncan Cartlidge FRICS www.duncancartlidgeonline.com

December 12, 2025Episode 815 min

Is it a plane, is it a bird? No, it's Mothman!

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026. duncancartlidgeonline : Insights for construction professionals. If you work in the construction industry, then the duncancartlidgeonline podcast is an essential source of information. Established in 2020, duncancartlidgeonline, has over 9 hours of video presentations on quantity surveying (taking off quantities/quantity takeoffs), construction management, estimating, project management and cost advice and all for £7 a month which includes online support. Over the last two seasons of podcasts duncancartlidgeonline have kept construction professionals, including quantity surveyors, construction managers and project managers up to date with the latest developments in the construction industry and the professions. Topics have included extensions of time, latent and patent defects, construction claims, planning approval delays, skills shortages and much more. The third season continues with more construction insights on current issues. Podcasts are recorded in the company of my red labrador Barney, who keeps his eye on proceedings as well as offering some timely advice. And then of course there is my favourite superhero Mothman, intrigued? You'll have to download to learn more. Duncan Cartlidge is a quantity surveyor and a fellow of the RICS with over 50 years' experience in UK and European construction project delivery. In addition, he is the author of several best-selling books including, the Quantity Surveyor's and the Construction Project Manager's pocketbooks and New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice now in its fifth edition. In this episode; the RICS is changing the rules for candidates taking their APC. From January 2026 there will be a limit of four attempts. This is to try to ensure that candidates are full prepared for their ordeal rather than just racking up and hoping for the best. The latest podcast tells the story from the 1970s when the exams were set and moderated by the RICS complete with trick questions to trap unsuspecting candidates. No wonder the annual pass rate was around 30 - 40%. Now moving onto AI. There have been concerns all year that the AI bubble is about to burst. These concerns became even louder in December with warnings of a global melt down on financial markets if it were to happen. So far the massive investment in AI has failed to deliver a profit. In construction many claims have been made for the benefits that AI can bring with top consultants investing heavily. The situation is reminiscent of e commerce mania at the turn of the millennium. The bottom line is; can AI deliver measurable gains in time, cost and quality? Answers on a small post card please to........ Finally, what 2026 may hold for the construction industry? Reading the endless articles in the construction press on the prospects for 2026 it becomes apparent that opinions are mixed. If there is a consensus it is that things have been so bad lately, that on a range of possibilities things can only get better. I hope that you enjoyed this episode of the duncancartlidgeonline podcast. Barney and I would really appreciate it if you could find the time to write a review and spread the word. Until next time - take care. www.duncancartlidgeonline.com Insights for construction professionals