The development, which provides homes to people while they await permanent accommodation, officially launched in May this year and is already almost at capacity, with 17 homeless people now staying there.

Developed on vacant land in Granton, the Social Bite Village is made up of 11 two-bedroom nest houses intended to provide compact comfortable accommodation for occupants who will be offered round-the-clock support as they aim to reintegrate into society.

At the centre of the village is the community hub, where residents, staff and volunteers “will be encouraged to prepare meals communally, eat together, socialise, develop social and practical skills and benefit from a warm, bright, welcoming environment”.

Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, the social enterprise behind the initiative, said he is already speaking to other cities around the UK about the success of the village.

Representatives from Aberdeen, Manchester and Sheffield have been in contact with a view to using the village as a “blueprint” for further projects, he said.

At least five residents have already secured paid employment, while a further five have enrolled on courses at nearby Edinburgh College or the Open University, he added.