Sixteen modular homes have been granted planning permission
A new high quality supported accommodation project has been given planning permission.
The project will be delivered in partnership between South Lanarkshire Council and the charity Social Bite, based at the site of the former Westfield Saw Mills in Harriet Street in Rutherglen.
There will be 16 sustainable modular homes known as Nest Houses (including 1 staff unit). The houses will be manufactured by Scottish PropTech company Ecosystems Technologies.
In addition, the site will also have a community hub, which will house a large community lounge and kitchen area, facilitating a range of activities including therapeutic group work alongside all essential utilities.
Each individual home will offer high quality accommodation including lounge, fully equipped kitchen, bedroom and shower room. Homes will also benefit from individual landscaped areas alongside communal gardens for the tenants to enjoy, alongside improving the overall appearance of the wider area.
The project will be managed by a specialist housing support provider, offering an innovative approach to meeting accommodation and support needs, supporting homemaking skills in self-contained accommodation within a highly supportive environment ahead of move onto fully independent living.
Chair of the Housing and Technical Resources Committee, Councillor Davie McLachlan, said: “I’m delighted that this has been agreed today as it will help the delivery of the council’s homelessness strategy.
“Social Bite has a proven track record of delivering similar projects and we look forward to working in partnership with it.
“The site has been designed to ensure that it will integrate with its wider surroundings, is sustainable and can provide a range of services.
“It was great to see that the project received the unanimous backing of the Planning Committee as well as the Housing and Technical Resources Committee.”
Social Bite is a leading homelessness charity known for its groundbreaking efforts to combat homelessness within the UK.
Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, said: “It’s brilliant to see this project move forward with the approval of planning permission from South Lanarkshire Council's planning committee. At Social Bite, we believe that everyone deserves a safe and supportive place to call home, and this new development in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council represents an important step toward achieving that vision.
“It was revealed today that Scottish homelessness is at its highest in 10 years and we are proud to be part of the solution which is not just needed but completely essential. By creating high-quality, self-contained living spaces with integrated support services, we are providing a vital resource to help people on their journey from homelessness to independent living and breaking the cycle of homelessness.
“We have seen first-hand from our Edinburgh Village the huge impact these make on those living in them, and we’re excited to build on this success and help make lasting change in the fight to end homelessness in Scotland.
“A massive thank you to all our partners and supporters for their help in making this happen.”
The village is due to begin construction in early 2025 with plans for completion by summer that year.
At the end of their time at the village, residents are supported in transitioning to permanent accommodation and employment. The charity has a proven track record of success with similar projects, including its Edinburgh Village which has helped over 100 residents, many of whom have gone on to secure employment and move into their own permanent homes.
