The announcement came earlier today (26 August 2026) highlighting a new piece of legislation that will be tabled by ministers on the water industry.
For those of you not familiar with the essentials, have a listen to The Cambridge Radio podcast hosted by Lewis Herbert here from 12 July 2026 where he interviews Deputy Chief Executive Beth Dugdale – this was just before ministers confirmed the establishment of the new development corporation for Cambridge which came into being on 23 July 2026.
“The Development Corporation will commence a new search for a Chief Executive following a personal decision by David Hill to stay at Defra.
“David will be continuing at Defra as Director General Water, leading a significant programme of reform to the water system including major legislation in the year ahead.”
Above – News update from Greater Cambridge Development Corporation, 26 August 2026
The latest briefing on the state of the water industry by the House of Commons Library is from January 2026 here. Given this summer’s drought alongside the very recent appointment of the current Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Dame Angela Eagle MP who has only been in post for a month – the same as the new Minister of State for Water Emma Hardy MP, I can understand why the Government may have taken the view of asking Mr Hill to stay on as Director General for Water.
When a piece of legislation goes through Parliament, ministers are at their most dependent on their civil servants for briefing and speech-writing materials. During my civil service days I worked in a team responsible for two and a half pages of clauses of draft legislation on what is now the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Yet the volume of speaking notes we had to prepare for both ministers in the Commons and the Lords ran into well over 100 pages. As incoming ministers new to the policy areas, Emma Hardy MP in particular will have a huge amount of reading to do to familiarise herself with the detail of the legislation. It is an incredibly intense processes and I was lucky to have had a front row seat during the legislation’s passage through Parliament. (This is where you learn the hard way about how corporate lobbyists function – there are a few books that shine a light on the dark arts!)
There’s little to add to the statement published. While things like this are infrequent, they happen and you just have to get on with it.
At the same time, there are a number of senior posts open, and two more soon to be opened.
And soon to be published, vacancies for:
- Director of Project Delivery
- Director of Property Investment
Parliament returns next week on Tues 01 September 2026
Expect more ministerial announcements then – including on the future shape of local government for Cambridgeshire.
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