The Combined Authority for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is now an official body.

Secretary of State, Sajid Javid, signed the Order to formally constitute it yesterday (March 6) after it was debated and agreed in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords and passed without amendment.

The combined authority will be led by an elected mayor and will be given £20 million a year for the next 30 years to boost growth in the area, as well as £170 million for housing.

Councillor Robin Howe, chairman of the combined authority said: “This is a major milestone in the future of our region and we are thrilled to have been formally constituted by the Secretary of State.

“The members and officers of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority are committed and determined to bring real change to the people of this area and we are looking ahead to our first meeting on March 20, and the Mayoral election on May 4.”

The first meeting of the new combined authority will take place at the Boathouse in Wisbech from 2pm to 4pm, and a new campaign has been launched around the election of the mayor – who will be in control of a £100m housing and infrastructure fund - called ‘Our Mayor, Your Vote.’

The first tranche of funding will be made available to the combined authority at the end of March.