in 1951, wood was appointed private secretary to the minister and, after the ministry was merged into the ministry of housing and local government, he was appointed principal regional officer for the west midlands in 1954. two years later, he was promoted to the grade of assistant secretary and given responsibility for the water division. in 1964, he was appointed under-secretary in charge of the planning division, serving for four years until (in 1968) he was made second crown estate commissioner. he managed projects to renovate large parts of the crown estate including windsor castle and carlton house terrace. in 1970, he was appointed a companion of the order of the bath and, on retirement in 1978, he was appointed a knight commander of the royal victorian order.