Frank Arnold, who owns Arnold's Supermarket, Maximart and Arnold's Family Market, won approval to build a new market by the Development Application Board (DAB).

The new market will be located in the area where the old Mr. Twist building was located on South Road.

The two-storey building will include a glassed-in lower floor and a Bermudian style upper veranda, and will have more than 4,700 square-feet of floor space.

It will also include two retail stores.

According to Mr. Arnold, two retail stores will be on the street level, with the second level devoted to storage area.

And customers can expect much of the same goods and services available at the other Arnold's markets.

Mr. Arnold, who intends to employ between 15 and 20 new staff members at the market, said the store would "enhance the South Shore for tourists and locals alike''.

Mr. Arnold plans to begin construction in early January, and said it would be finished "hopefully in time for the summer''.

He purchased the land from developer John Berg last year, and had been waiting for a year for his application to be approved by the DAB.

Mr. Arnold said the application for a second retail unit was also approved, but it remains undecided what will go in the unit.

Telecom Bermuda, Ltd. has also received approval from the DAB to expand its business.

The new building, be located at 71 North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish, will allow for more office and storage space.

Telecom Bermuda president Charlie Marshall explained that as the business has grown, the new office will provide room for a growing administration and sales staff.

Mr. Marshall said: "We've recently added two more people to the staff, and we are likely to hire another three or four more people in 1998. The additional space will ensure that the staff isn't cramped and has room to work.'' The downstairs area will be used for storage and for repair technicians.

The Bermuda National Trust, in conjunction with the Bermuda Audubon Society, are awaiting further approval for their plan to build a protective boardwalk at the Paget Marsh.

Their application has been deferred by the DAB until information regarding the environmental impact, technical specifications, and materials to be used for the boardwalk has been submitted.

Trust executive director Amanda Outerbridge said: "This is not your everyday project, and it requires a fair amount of research.''