The site is believed to feature 21 self-contained flats.
Emergency services deal with a fire that broke out at Roman Court in Cambridgeshire (Image: Getty Images)
A fire which erupted at a site earmarked for use as asylum seeker accommodation is being treated as arson, police have confirmed. Emergency services were called to Roman Court, a former sheltered housing complex in Leverington, Cambridgeshire, on Wednesday evening. Cambridgeshire Constabulary said officers were called by the fire service just after 7.30pm following reports of a fire at the property. The building was empty at the time and nobody was injured, but police said it had been severely damaged in the blaze. As part of a statement, the force said: “Firefighters brought the blaze under control, but the building has been severely damaged. The fire is being treated as arson and is being investigated by the fire service and police.”
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said 21 crews were “working hard” to tackle the blaze and prevent it from spreading. Crews from Wisbech, March and Dogsthorpe attended, alongside a turntable ladder from Stanground and firefighters from Outwell and West Walton in neighbouring Norfolk.
The blaze comes amid controversy over proposals to use Roman Court to house asylum seekers. According to Fenland District Council, a letter from the Home Office said the site could “provide 26 bedspaces for mothers and babies” and had been approved for further consideration as dispersal accommodation.
Fenland District Council opposed the proposal and submitted a full objection to the Home Office on October 7 as part of the appeals process. Peaceful protests were also held earlier this month following the announcement that the site was being considered for asylum seeker accommodation.
Roman Court, which closed as sheltered housing several years ago, was listed for sale at auction in October 2025. Property details said the complex contained 21 self-contained flats, including 16 studios, four one-bedroom flats and one three-bedroom unit.
Planning permission was also in place for single-storey extensions to four of the flats. A statement on the Cambridgehsire Fire and Rescue website at the time of yesterday’s incident reads: “At 7.26pm on Wednesday (21) crews were called to a fire at Roman Court in Leverington.
The street was cordoned off leading to Roman Court as emergency services attended the incident (Image: Getty Images)
“Crews from Wisbech, March and Dogsthorpe, along with the turntable ladder from Stanground and crews from Outwell and West Walton in Norfolk, attended the incident.
“Firefighters arrived to find a fire in a single storey building that was unoccupied.
“They are working hard to tackle the fire and prevent it from spreading. There are currently no injuries reported.
“An investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the fire once it is fully extinguished.”
Anyone with information has been asked to contact Cambridgeshire Constabulary online, quoting incident 452 of October 21. Those without internet access can call 101.