Up to 40,000 new affordable homes are set to be built in Cambridgeshire over the next 20 years, an alliance of housing associations has said.

Some of the new homes will be in Huntingdonshire, according to Homes for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The alliance will be working with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and will start by building 2,000 additional affordable homes by 2021.

Alan Lewin, chairman of Homes for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “As the first devolved authority to be established with its own housing grant programme, this is a ground-breaking collaboration for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

“This region is unique amongst devolved areas due to its diverse mix of urban and rural communities, ranging from world class high-tech business centres to small, agricultural communities.

“The housing associations in Homes for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will work together with the combined authority, local authorities, and Homes England to provide diverse quality homes, including housing let at affordable rents, mixed tenure, and outright sale.

He added: “This will ensure there are homes for people on a range of incomes, while also supporting sustainable growth in our urban and rural communities.”

Cllr Peter Topping, portfolio holder for new homes at the combined authority, said: “We know we need to build more homes across Cambridgeshire, and particularly increase the amount of affordable housing we have.

“This is a step towards making this happen so that our children can look forward to making their own homes here, in the communities they’ve grown up in.

Cllr Topping added: “Housing associations are a key partner in bringing affordable housing forward, so it’s great news that we now have this shared set of objectives to work from.”

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough became the first devolved authority to be allocated a specific housing grant worth £170 million. Part of the grant will be used to building a mix of housing, including homes with affordable rents.

In the five years to 2015 it has been estimated that nearly 3,000 fewer homes than were needed were built in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Homes for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, which includes Huntingdon-based Luminus, owns and manages nearly 50,000 homes in the region and says it will match every £1 of the combined authority’s investment with up to £6 of its own.