The RICS Podcast

RICS’ Project of the Year 2025 award went to the Stevenson Building at Newcastle University. It was a redevelopment that excelled in every criteria, resulting in a world-class engineering facility for teaching, research and industry partnerships.In this episode of the RICS podcast, Paul Bagust is joined by Simon Allen MRICS, who led the team working on the Stephenson Building , to find out how the exciting and challenging project came to life. We then speak with Saba Nayab FRICS, lead judge in the RICS Awards Refurbishment and Revitalisation category, to discuss what makes a project stand out and why the Stevenson Building excelled.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:How Newcastle University transformed a 1950s engineering block into a modern, flexible hub for teaching, research, and industry collaboration Stakeholder engagement and vision setting to align diverse interests Managing complex site and technical constraints, including a constrained urban campus site, sensitive specialist equipment, and a protected tunnelUsing a bespoke sustainability tracker, strategic reuse of existing structures, and design choices that influence long-term user behaviour.What makes an RICS Award-winning project.Find out more about the RICS UK Awards 2026 here.Paul Bagusthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-bagust-b0420520/Simon Allen MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-allan-280673151/Saba Nayab FRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sabanayab/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

This episode is part of RICS Legal Landscapes, a limited podcast series developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which is CPD-compliant and designed to support professional development across the surveying profession and the broader built environment.In this CPD-focused episode of the RICS Legal Landscapes podcast, Vanessa Griffiths MRICS is joined by Tracy Hartley MRICS, Henrietta Hammonds FRICS, and Katie Cohen to unpack what the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA) and related reforms really mean in practice. The panel gives clear explanations of the new 990-year lease extensions, the removal of the two-year ownership rule, the proposed abolition of marriage value, and how these intersect with ground rent reforms and service charge transparency. This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:What LAFRA really does and doesn’t do, and the limits of current implementation.How the Ground Rent Act 2022 and ongoing political pressure are reshaping the value and viability of ground rent–backed investmentsService charge transparency and management challengesCommonhold as an alternative to leasehold, and the potential market shift if a new commonhold bill landsHow surveyors, lawyers, and property managers should advise clients amid moving goalposts, media misinformation, and pending secondary legislationHenrietta Hammonds FRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/henrietta-hammonds-07361345/Vanessa Griffiths MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-griffiths-96415a26/Tracey Hartley MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-hartley-1752412/Katie Cohenhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-cohen-956b2421/Keystone Law | Lawyers for businesses & sophisticated individuals requiring legal adviceRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

Welcome to the first RICS Podcast of 2026 in which incoming President Nick Maclean FRICS shares his aspirations for the surveying profession in the coming year.He’s joined by hydrography expert Gordon Johnston MRICS, as Tara King hosts a conversation that delves into how RICS will be shaped under his leadership to serve the public interest through 2026 and beyond. They’ll outline RICS's plans to build influence with governments and regulators, close the skills gap through more accessible and flexible routes into surveying and foster collaboration with like-minded professional bodies worldwide. This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:Building global influence, securing a seat at ‘the right tables’ with governments, regulators, and lawmakers worldwideThe unique role of RICS as a royal charter body balancing client service, public good, and member representationNew, more flexible and inclusive pathways into surveying, plus retraining and CPD for existing members, all aiming to close the ‘skills gap’The impact of AI, big data, robotics, and autonomous systems on surveying across land and seaThe blue economy and hydrography’s central role in future economic growth, climate resilience, and the work of surveyorsNick Maclean OBE FRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-maclean-obe-rd-frics-irrv-hons-17825a19/Tara Kinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-king-5b4494a6/Gordon Johnston MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-johnston-8778111/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

With more than 30,000 items and an original estimate between £7.6m and £11.3m, Freddie Mercury's auction at Sotheby's in London in 2023 exceeded expectations, fetching £39.9m in just over a week.  In this week’s episode of The RICS Podcast, we meet the three exceptional women who helped bring this sale to the public and asked them about the challenges in discovering, valuing and selling the belongings of an international rock star who is so fondly remembered. Rachel Reilly is the Senior Director and Head of Valuation for Europe at Sotheby’s London. Sarah Hodgson and Carey Wallace are memorabilia specialists and Co-Founders of Wallace and Hodgson, who were engaged as consultants to work on the wardrobe section of the sale.Notable sales include Mercury's crown and cloak, selling for £629,000, almost 10 times the estimate, and a Tiffany & Co moustache comb that went for £152,400, over 250 times its estimate. The auction's success (140,000 people visited Sotheby's to view the items) highlights the enduring appeal and legacy of the iconic Queen frontman.This episode of The RICS Podcast covers:The extraordinary scale, popularity, and success of the Sotheby’s Freddie Mercury auctionThe process, challenges, and expertise needed to manage over 30,000 items, including iconic costumes and unique memorabiliaThe importance of storytelling and immersive curation to make the experience accessible, emotional, and museum-like for visitorsAshley Stewart-Noblehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleystewartnoble/Carey Wallacehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/carey-wallace-0b0a3a28/Sarah Hodgsonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hodgson-76792923/Rachel Reillyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-reilly-172513273/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/

This episode is part of RICS Legal Landscapes, a limited podcast series developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which is CPD-compliant and designed to support professional development across the surveying profession and the broader built environment.The role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the construction industry is evolving, and recent case law shows how it’s being most effectively used in recent examples.In this episode of The RICS Podcast, Dave Hull MRICS is joined by Guy Bolt MRICS and Kirsti Olson, sharing their expert legal and practical perspectives, the essentials of ADR, and its real-world impact on project success. Learning outcomesExplain the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the construction industry and identify its key practical applications.Analyse recent legal developments and landmark cases to evaluate how they shape the use of ADR.Demonstrate the essential skills and capabilities needed to participate effectively in ADR processes.Assess the value of interdisciplinary collaboration between surveyors, legal teams, and other professionals in managing disputes.Apply current guidance and reflect on future trends to understand how embracing ADR can improve project outcomes and support ongoing professional development.Dave Hull MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/davehull/Guy Bolt MRICShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/guysheerbolt/Kirsti Olson https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsti-olson-84288b51/Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: https://www.rics.org/uk/ RICS Podcast Page https://www.rics.org/podcast/ Kieran Halliwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdhalliwell/