• Swindon & Wiltshire Appointments
• Tuesday August 25 2026

Development zone to appoint ambassador – at £1,000 a day

A ‘public face’ for the West of England’s new Mayoral Development Zone is being sought – with a salary of £1,000 a day.

In May, the West of England Combined Authority announced plans for its first MDZ, covering Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc in South Gloucestershire and north Bristol.

At the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum in Leeds mayor Helen Godwin – cheered on by then-Chancellor Rachel Reeves – confirmed her intention to establish the region’s first MDZ – which will deliver housing across local authority boundaries.

Now the authority is looking to appoint a chair for the MDZ. The successful candidate, says the authority, “will provide strategic leadership, setting the long-term vision for a high-quality, inclusive and sustainable New Town that will become a flagship destination for innovation-led growth, new homes, employment, infrastructure and thriving communities.”

The chair will be “the public face and senior ambassador for the programme,” representing the New Town regionally and nationally.

WECA says suitable candidates need to have “significant experience chairing boards or governing bodies, ensuring robust governance, effective scrutiny and high standards of accountability.”

The salary is advertised at £30,000 for 30 days per year. Applications close on September 6.