Devolution deals are to be signed in Suffolk and Norfolk giving them over £1bn to invest in their communities, the Government has announced.

Under the deals, the counties will be handed direct control over building, regeneration and skills delivery.

Both counties will directly elect the leader of the council from May 2024. This means more than 50% of England will now be covered by a directly elected leader.

'I am delighted to sign two further historic deals for Suffolk and Norfolk that will see communities handed hundreds of millions of pounds to use as they – not Whitehall - see fit,' said levelling up secretary Michael Gove.

'Ultimately it is local people who know what is best for their areas and it is my job to make sure local leaders have the levers to address the issues unique to them.'

Under the proposed deal for Suffolk, the county will receive control of a £480m investment fund over 30 years, as well as a multi-year transport settlement at the next Spending Review.

Norfolk is set to receive a £600m investment fund over the same period, with almost £7m to support regeneration of brownfield sites into affordable homes for local people.

Cllr Martin Hill, devolution spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said: 'Now that six of the initial ten county deal areas have agreed proposals with government, we must complete the remaining deals as soon as possible, whilst government should announce a second wave of negotiations.

'Counties across the country have prepared innovative proposals to help boost productivity at a time when the country needs economic growth and we urge the government to now turbocharge this agenda and agree deals with at least two-thirds of our member councils by the end of this Parliament.'