Richard died before the proposal could be put into operation, but in 1109, the custodian of the vacant abbey secured permission to make the change, and became the first Bishop of Ely. However, the administrative changes needed to make the abbey into a bishopric took longer, and were still unresolved at the time of Nigel's appointment.
Richard did not survive long enough for the proposal to be carried out; in 1109, the caretaker of the empty abbey secured permission to make changes. This made him the first Bishop of Ely. However, the administrative modifications required to transform the abbey into a bishopric took more time and were still unresolved at Nigel's appointment.