Peep Show Tower Helps to Tackle Homelessness

Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

In a move to combat rising homelessness, Croydon council has acquired the equivalent of 73 housing units in Zodiac Court, a block of flats atop four floors of disused office space. The purchase, estimated at £20mn, has scuppered redevelopment plans for the building that had been underway since 2023. What makes these flats of particular interest is their notoriety as the home of Jez and Mark in the hit British sitcom, Peep Show. Used as a filming location for its first two seasons and dubbed “Apollo House” in the show, the building is now set to become the new, temporary home for dozens of homeless individuals in the area.

The move comes after Croydon council published its five year housing strategy (2024-29), which stated a commitment to the “supply of affordable homes that meet the diverse needs of residents”. Recent statistics on homelessness in London point to the necessity of such a move. According to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, nearly ten thousand people were recorded as sleeping rough across the city over the course of last September.

Despite an initiative like this from the council, it is unclear how effectively this will tackle the issue of homelessness in the area. The Department for Levelling Up also found that one-third of rough sleepers had been doing so long term and that people were over twice as likely to sleep rough for a whole month than for just one night. However, Croydon council has already conceded that there would be “restrictions” on providing more affordable and social housing given “the council’s financial position as well as the difficult national environment”.

Because of the ongoing redevelopment that had been taking place before the purchase, those moving in may find themselves surrounded by debris and construction equipment until the council sees fit to remove it.