Fifteen factory-built, cross-laminated timber homes have been installed on the former Westfield Saw Mills site in Rutherglen, near Glasgow, providing Scots experiencing homelessness with self-contained dwellings with their own kitchen, bathroom and front door. That is according to Ecosystems Technologies — the Invergordon-based manufacturer whose Nest Houses were built in the Scottish Highlands and transported south to Social Bite‘s £3 million Harriet Gardens development in South Lanarkshire for crane installation, with the first residents expected to move in early 2026.
Scotland’s homelessness system has reached its worst level, with the government confirming 18,092 households in temporary accommodation as of September 2025—a 9 per cent increase and the highest since records began in 2002. At last count, 10,480 children were included, and the average household spent 238 days in temporary accommodation before securing housing.
“The village will provide up to 15 people affected by homelessness with a safe and secure place to call home and break the cycle of homelessness,” said Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite. “We have received amazing support from donors, each of whom has made it possible for us to create this space that will help more people develop their confidence and independence.”
The development — delivered in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council and unanimously approved by councillors — builds directly on Social Bite’s Edinburgh Village, which has already helped more than 100 people experiencing homelessness transition into their own homes, find employment and rebuild community connections. Each Nest House at Harriet Gardens is fully self-contained with its own sitting room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, set within individual landscaped gardens and arranged around a central community hub offering shared cooking facilities and therapeutic support.
“At The Salvation Army, we understand that supporting people to move from rough sleeping to independent living requires a holistic approach,” said Helen Murdoch, assistant director of strategic operations and development (Scotland). “This means working alongside individuals to build practical life skills such as budgeting, managing a home and looking after themselves, while nurturing relationships and support networks.”
Wood Central understands that each Nest House was fabricated as a complete unit in Ecosystems Technologies’ Highland facility — structure, insulation, internal finishes and services all incorporated before the homes left the factory — leaving on-site work to ground preparation, service connections and crane placement.
Ecosystems Technologies produces its CLT panels from UK forests, using home-grown timber rather than imported product, whilst completing as much of each home as possible before it leaves Invergordon. The system runs on standardised components configured as a kit-of-parts, with each home carrying an estimated 60-year service life — more than triple the 238-day average a homeless household in Scotland currently spends waiting for settled accommodation.
“South Lanarkshire has a strong track record in delivering high-quality housing and homelessness services,” said Councillor Davie McLachlan, chair of the council’s Housing and Technical Resources Committee. “We welcome the investment and expertise of Social Bite and its partners, alongside a long-term partner in The Salvation Army, as we continue to expand and enhance our services to meet the diverse needs of homeless households.”
