Plans for a combined authority covering the entirety of East Anglia, including Norfolk and Suffolk, were announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on 16 March 2016 as part of the 2016 United Kingdom budget, with the aim of creating an "Eastern Powerhouse" analogous to the government's Northern Powerhouse concept.

[6] The Norfolk and Suffolk devolution deal was later scrapped, after several district councils withdrew.

[7][8] The devolution deal was agreed by the constituent local councils in November 2016,[9] and the first meeting of the shadow combined authority was held in December 2016.

[10] The draft statutory instrument required for formal establishment of the combined authority was laid in Parliament on 23 January, made on 2 March 2017, and came into force the following day.

The Chairman of the Business Board, which functions as the Local Enterprise Partnership for the region, also holds a seat.