Fire crews were called to the Grade II-listed former Fisons warehouse on Paper Mill Lane, in Bramford, near Ipswich, at about 05:00 BST.
The building, dating back to 1858, was destroyed by the blaze. The blaze is thought to have started in a smaller building before spreading to the wooden main factory building, thought to be one of Suffolk's largest listed buildings. The land off Paper Mill Lane, next to the River Gipping and railway line, was first developed from 1851 to 1854 as a fertiliser plant by Packards, but the large Grade II-listed wooden warehouse was built when Fisons arrived.
In 2014, a plan to turn the site into a £20m housing and business park was approved by councillors, but work had not begun. The developer has been granted permission to build 73 homes immediately, with outline planning permission granted for a further 103 homes, along with offices, shops and a restaurant.
Ian Bowell, from Suffolk Fire and Rescue, said "I have to say quite confidently that we are treating this as arson,"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-48175407
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-29423526
The building, dating back to 1858, was destroyed by the blaze. The blaze is thought to have started in a smaller building before spreading to the wooden main factory building, thought to be one of Suffolk's largest listed buildings. The land off Paper Mill Lane, next to the River Gipping and railway line, was first developed from 1851 to 1854 as a fertiliser plant by Packards, but the large Grade II-listed wooden warehouse was built when Fisons arrived.
In 2014, a plan to turn the site into a £20m housing and business park was approved by councillors, but work had not begun. The developer has been granted permission to build 73 homes immediately, with outline planning permission granted for a further 103 homes, along with offices, shops and a restaurant.
Ian Bowell, from Suffolk Fire and Rescue, said "I have to say quite confidently that we are treating this as arson,"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-48175407
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-29423526