Police close former shoe factory fire inquiry

Police have dropped their investigation into a suspected arson attack at a derelict shoe factory.

The site on Dibden Road, Norwich, was destroyed in a fire on 20 January after facing long-term issues with vandalism.

Norfolk Police launched an arson investigation and said it carried out an "extensive" search to find the suspects.

However, the force has now closed its investigation, and no culprits were identified, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A Norfolk Police spokesperson said: "We have now concluded all lines of inquiry, and therefore the investigation will be closed.

"Of course, we would always review any new information provided to us."

The factory had been vacant since Van Dal shoemakers moved out in 2018.

In January, a fire tore through the building, temporarily closing a nearby school due to concerns about asbestos coming from the factory.

The scale of the damage meant no evidence was available in the building, with the site deemed too dangerous to access.

Hemingford Group, which owned the site, began demolition work shortly after the blaze.

The site was then bought by Norwich City Council, which sold it to developers Flagship Group with a view to creating a new housing estate.

A council spokesperson said: "The sale of the site to Flagship was made on the agreement that they will provide around 48 new affordable homes subject to planning permission."

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