South Lanarkshire Council gave the green light to a proposed 'village' in Rutherglen
Social Bite has taken a significant step forward in its mission to combat homelessness after permission was granted for a housing development.
South Lanarkshire Council gave the green light to a proposed Social Bite Village in Rutherglen.
The village, to be situated on a brownfield site on Harriet Street, will consist of 15 modern, sustainable modular homes, known as nest houses, accompanied by a dynamic community hub.
Tailored to meet the needs of its residents, the village provides a supportive environment, facilitating their journey out of homelessness through on-site support services and a range of skills and confidence building activities.
In light of escalating demand for temporary accommodation and concerning statistics, including over 39,000 applications for homelessness assistance in Scotland in 2022-2023, Social Bite is seeking to emulate the success of its existing village in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Social Bite Village, opened in 2018, has already supported over 100 people in a situation of homelessness, many of whom have now moved on to permanent housing, showcasing the effectiveness of the model in tackling homelessness.
The charity and social enterprise will be entering into a community consultation stage and applying for planning permission.
A decision on the application is expected in later this year, paving the way for construction of the homes and hub, beginning in autumn 2025.
Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite, pictured above, emphasised the urgent need for innovative solutions in addressing homelessness, stating: "It’s brilliant to get the go ahead from South Lanarkshire Council on our proposal for the newest Social Bite Village to be located in Rutherglen. Our Social Bite Villages represent a pioneering approach to tackling homelessness in Scotland.
“By collaborating with the local community, South Lanarkshire Council, and our charity partners, this new village will establish a transformative model of accommodation that not only provides beautiful homes to live in, but also helps to break the cycle of homelessness for the individuals that will move in by giving people all the support they need.
“It’s important to us that the local community are part of this journey. As we begin to embed plans for this new village, we’ll look to start public consultation in the coming months. We’re working closely with South Lanarkshire Council to ensure the village is a positive asset to the local community.”
As well as the Social Bite Edinburgh Village, in 2023, the charity also announced its plans for a Recovery Village in Dundee to tackle rising drug and alcohol deaths in the city with development plans for this project ongoing.
For more information on the South Lanarkshire Village, visit: http://social-bite.co.uk/southlanarkshire
