a new water treatment plant in Southampton.

Permission for the water treatment plant and pumping station was granted to replace the temporary station erected in 1989 at Tudor Hill.

The DAB expects the site to be landscaped and the topsoil reused in finishing the project.

The system will eventually be able to supply area homes with up to 250,000 gallons of water a day taken from an underground supply. It was built following a drought.

In recent months, Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott has warned the public about water shortages with the potential of the underground water table falling to low levels this summer.

The DAB has also approved major improvements to the Mermaid Beach Club on South Road, Warwick.

The hotel plans to make additions and improvements to the tourist units and build a new hotel lobby and meeting rooms.

Mermaid owner Brian Alkon also intends to build a new spa and recreation centre and "restorative coastal works'' to the southern shoreline.