TV presenter and journalist Steph McGovern joined expert bakers, builders and architects to judge the North-East’s biggest gingerbread building competition at The Biscuit Factory in aid of local homelessness charity Oasis Community Housing.
13 local businesses and community groups created miniature gingerbread houses, a train station with kit-kat tracks, a church, Japanese temple, disco, and even a dentist treating ginger-vitis! All of the confectionary creations have been placed alongside each other to make up Gingerbread Street – a free exhibition, which will remain on display at The Biscuit Factory until 4 January 2025.
Lovell Homes’ Director of Partnerships, Phil Jones, who also joined the judging panel, said:
“Behind each gingerbread house lies a story of hope and resilience. Every Gingerbread Street entry is contributing to making a real difference to individuals facing homelessness – and inspiring us to continue our efforts to support Oasis Community Housing and those who need it most.”
Judges Steph McGovern, Lovell’s Phil Jones, Greggs’s CEO Roisin Currie and RIBA North-East’s Co-Chair Grace Choi awarded the Community Champion Award to St Albans Windy Nook Church whose congregation re-created their place of worship in gingerbread and sweets, titled Sharing God’s Love with you. Because the Church is more than the building.
Other award winners included: John Dobson’s House of Disco by GT3 Architects (small plot); Senso-ji: A Place of Peace and Community by Komatsu (medium plot); and The CHA Gingerbread Community Station by Crawford Higgins Associates (large plot).
The final award – People’s Choice – was put to a public vote on the charity’s social media channels with followers overwhelmingly voting for The Hope and Honeycomb Cathedral, built by Corstorphine & Wright architectural practice.
Coming in second in the People’s Choice Award was St Albans Windy Nook Church’s Sharing God’s Love with you. Because the Church is more than the building. and third was NTEX Logistics’ Because even gingerbread needs reliable transport.
Gingerbread Street aims to raise awareness of homelessness this Christmas, and the community that is needed to make people feel they have a home. Sarah Gorman, CEO of Oasis Community Housing, the charity organising the event, said:
“Ending homelessness is about more than putting a roof over someone’s head. Building community around people is at the heart of what we do, so every individual feels safe and like they belong. We wanted to bring that message to life and so, with a dusting of Christmas spirit, we have Gingerbread Street!
“We are overwhelmed by the level of creativity and commitment given by local businesses, churches and groups, as well as our incredible judges – all enabling us to continue making a life-changing difference for people facing homelessness across the region.”
Visit Gingerbread Street – a free, festive exhibition at The Biscuit Factory until 4 January 2026 – or view the biscuity-builds over on our Facebook album >