A project to provide accommodation for the homeless in a purpose-built village has entered the final stages of its construction.

The last two NestHouses in the Social Bite Village were lifted in to site by crane on Wednesday.

It brings the total to 11 at the village in Granton, Edinburgh, which will officially be opened next month.

The village is described as an “innovative project” backed by EDI Group and City of Edinburgh Council which designed to break the cycle of homelessness.

A spokeswoman for Social Bite said: “The village will provide a safe living environment and support for up to 20 homeless people for around 12 months each, before helping them move into permanent accommodation.”

The village will provide a safe living environment and support for up to 20 homeless people for around 12 months each (Stewart Attwood/PA)
The village will provide a safe living environment and support for up to 20 homeless people for around 12 months each (Stewart Attwood/PA)

The charity first opened its 2012 when it opened a small sandwich shop in Edinburgh and began employing homeless people.

Since then it has attracted a string of celebrities and well-known figures to its Edinburgh outlet.

Visitors to its Edinburgh shop have included royal couple Prince Harry and Megan Markle and actors Leonardo DiCaprio, and George Clooney.

In addition to fundraising through its food and drink services, the charity also hosted Sleep in the Park in Princes Street Gardens to raise money for homeless people in December.

The sleepout attracted 8000 people who slept rough in freezing temperatures to raise money for the homeless.

600 Homes campaign
Social Bite hosted a mass sleep out in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh in December (Jeff Holmes/PA)

The Social Bite Village hopes to provide an accommodation model for the homeless and providing alternative to “sub-standard” temporary accommodation that currently exists.

It combines an innovative housing model using vacant council land along with a supported community environment.

A spokeswoman said: “The project is entirely geared at breaking the cycle of homelessness and giving residents pathways into employment and permanent housing.”