Social Bite Nest House: Housing to solve homelessness
Social Bite, a charity and social business that aims to end homelessness, commissioned Ecosystems Technologies to deliver a new kind of housing for their Social Bite Village.
The Prototype
Ecosystems Technologies’ Nest House design utilises homegrown timber and offsite manufacturing techniques. Built as a completed module, it is delivered to site fully furnished using a “plug and play” system, meaning little on-site work is required. This form of modular construction offers a quick and efficient method of housing delivery, minimising on-site disruption.
Utilising homegrown timber in the Nest House has delivered significant value, both socially and environmentally. The structural components were manufactured from a combination of mass timber products and Scottish-grown cladding was installed to the external facades, all utilising local supply chains and a local workforce, which helps support local jobs and the UK economy.
Environmentally, the timber is sourced from responsibly managed and sustainable local forests, which remove carbon from the atmosphere, resulting in a building which is net zero carbon.
In providing accommodation for vulnerable and homeless people, this approach delivers a rapid and effective housing solution when compared to traditional construction methods.
To manufacture the mass timber components for the prototype, Ecosystems used the UK’s only vacuum press, found in BE-ST’s Innovation Factory alongside our other state of the art wood processing equipment. BE-ST have also supported the project by spreading the message of this positive work on our communication channels and showcased the prototype at the BE-ST Campus from Spring 2024 until Autumn 2025.
“We believe that everyone, no matter their circumstances should be treated with respect and dignity, which these homes reflect in their design.”
The Villages
The Nest House is a demonstrator for the new Social Bite Village proposed for South Lanarkshire and the Bill Sword Social Bite Recovery Village in Dundee in 2026, to support people struggling with homelessness and addiction.
The Social Bite Village in South Lanarkshire will feature fifteen modular homes, including one for staff, and a community hub with shared living spaces and areas for group activities. The South Lanarkshire Village will emulate the successful model of the Edinburgh Village, which has helped over one hundred residents since it opened in 2018.
The site has broken ground with the modular Nest Houses arriving on-site at Rutherglen in November 2025, marking the next stage of construction as the project progresses towards an opening date in early 2026. These Nest Houses were manufactured by Invergordon-based Ecosystems Technologies and made the long commute from the Highlands to Rutherglen.
The Dundee Village will consist of a 10-bed communal residence and 10 single occupancy houses, as well as a communal hub. The village will be a therapeutic community, encouraging socialisation and facilitating skills training through recovery services and personalised support to help residents who are struggling with addiction.
The prototype was unveiled in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh in November 2023 as part of Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness, subsequently presented at Gleneagles Hotel before being showcased at BE-ST from 2024-25, and is currently located in Dundee.
This is not the first Social Bite Village, with Social Bite having delivered eleven houses in Edinburgh in partnership with the team behind Ecosystems and Cyrenians in 2018, all of which are still used. The Village initiative combines an innovative housing model with a supported community environment.
Social Bite is currently raising funds to support the delivery of their two next villages in Scotland. You can find out more and donate at the link here.