Clementine Lodge in Bicester, built by Churchill Living, received a five-star rating in an independent customer satisfaction survey conducted by the Home Builders Federation (HBF).

This marks the 11th consecutive year that Churchill Living has achieved the highest rating, the only specialist retirement housebuilder to earn five stars in 2026.

Spencer J McCarthy, Chairman & CEO of Churchill Living, said: “We are delighted to have maintained our top 5 Star customer satisfaction rating for yet another year, setting us apart from other providers in the specialist retirement sector.

“To achieve this success based on an independent survey of our Owners is a testament to the effort that goes in from our whole team, ensuring that we continue to deliver the highest quality apartments, with exceptional customer service, and unrivalled peace of mind for our customers and their families.”

The HBF’s national survey measures how satisfied customers are with the quality of their new homes and asks whether they would recommend their housebuilder to others.

Churchill Living’s consistent five-star rating reflects its commitment to providing secure, comfortable, and purpose-built homes for older adults.

Clementine Lodge offers a selection of low-maintenance one and two-bedroom retirement apartments designed to support independent living with the benefits of security and community in central Bicester.

The development is part of Churchill Living’s broader focus on creating safe, attractive, and sustainable homes for later life through thoughtful design and customer-focused service.

Anatomy Arts Piercing, run by Dawn and Marcello, soon to be the McCormack family, offers a piercing experience specialising in solid gold and verified implant grade titanium jewellery.

The family-run studio opened its doors on May 10, 2025, with a fully booked launch day that saw the couple carry out piercings for more than nine hours without a break.

Mrs McCormack, said: “It’s incredibly difficult to put into words how grateful we are, without our clientele there is no Anatomy Arts Piercing.

“Our little family run studio is the centre point of our lives – it provides for our children, it keeps a roof over our heads, it allows us to live as our authentic selves.”

Dawn and Marcello, soon-to-be the McCormack family, celebrate the first anniversary of Anatomy of Arts piercing studio in Bicester (Image: Dawn, Anatomy of Arts)

The biggest challenge the couple has faced was starting the business with a now five-year-old and an almost two-year-old.

She said: “When we opened, it was two days before our youngest’s first birthday and our eldest hadn’t even started school yet.

“For both of us to take the leap to be self employed was a massive risk so the anniversary will definitely be our ‘we made it’ moment.

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“We are so thankful to not only be doing the jobs we both love and are incredibly passionate about; but to have the time to spend with our children is a blessing.”

To celebrate, there will be a shop discount on offer on their entire stock of jewellery.

The couple, who said they “tend to have expensive taste in jewellery”, will also pierce each other to mark the occasion, although they starting to run out of room.

Naturally grown diamonds will be added to Marcello while a solid gold chain or charm will be added to Dawn.

However, as the couple is getting married in June, they’re more focused on not burning themselves out and completing last minute wedding DIY bits.

On their return from their honeymoon, they plan to introduce an anodiser machine, which changes the colour of implant grade titanium jewellery for a low cost.

Dawn and Marcello, soon-to-be the McCormack family, celebrate the first anniversary of Anatomy of Arts piercing studio in Bicester (Image: Dawn, Anatomy of Arts)

They also hope to introduce an IPad to make consent form processes more seamless.

She said: “There’s no other job that either of us could imagine doing that gives us the same fulfilling satisfaction or gives us the space to look the way we do.

“Piercing is an adrenaline rush for both clients and piercers alike, so when your piercer is just as passionate about the piercing they’re about to do as the client is who’s about to receive it.

“All in all, our clients give us our beautiful life and we honestly couldn’t be more grateful.

“We’re so ecstatic to see what the future holds.”

Dalcour Maclaren made the move in response to rising demand for infrastructure, renewables, and water projects across Wales.

James Neil, CEO at Dalcour Maclaren, said: “Wales is an extremely important country for Dalcour Maclaren as we are already involved helping many clients in both the water, energy and infrastructure sectors.

“We are really excited to be opening this office, which will strengthen and grow our DM ONETEAM within Cardiff to deliver Wales’ ambitious infrastructure agenda.”

Dalcour Maclaren already works with organisations including Welsh Water and National Grid.

It is currently supporting projects such as Welsh Water’s Cello telemetry schemes, National Grid substation expansion projects, and work across AMP8 frameworks with Severn Trent and Hafren Dyfrdwy.

The expansion strengthens the company’s ability to deliver integrated land, planning and environmental services locally, alongside the introduction of the Infrastructure (Wales) Act, which is reshaping how projects are planned and delivered.

Sean Taylor, technical director for environment and planning at Dalcour Maclaren, said: “The Infrastructure (Wales) Act introduces a more streamlined and consistent approach to consenting major projects.

“That creates opportunity but also requires a clear strategy and understanding of the process from the outset.”

Dalcour Maclaren is also involved in major renewable energy projects, including offshore wind developments Mona and Awel y Môr.