Greenpeace looks for 'fortress' architect

The environmental campaigner hopes to build the fortress on land it owns in the centre of the planned runway.

Last year it bought a 0.4ha plot in the village of Sipson which is now owned by 60,000 people as part of a plan to give the government a red-tape headache ahead of compulsory purchase orders.

Architects have been given until April 23 to come up with ideas with a winner due to be picked in May. Judges include Peter Clegg from Feilden Clegg Bradley, Atelier One founder Neil Thomas and comedian Alistair McGowan.

A Greenpeace spokesman said: "Who knows what firms are going to come up with. All we know is that we are going to have to build the structure."

Greenpeace has asked for the building to be able to withstand bulldozers and bailiffs.

The spokesman added: "A lot of people are willing to defend the land and physically stand in the way of the bulldozers."

"Ideally we want to start building as soon as possible, hopefully by the end of the year, but we have to wait for planning. With our land purchase, from concept to completion, it took about a year."

The winning design will have to be submitted for planning to Hillingdon Council, which is opposed to the runway. Greenpeace has even invited Runway 3 masterplanner, Grimshaw, whose offices were recently attacked by green activists, to bid.

"If Grimshaw want to turn to the light, then we will look upon their application with favourable eyes," its spokesman added.