Dua Lipa home renovation halted by unexploded World War II bomb scare

Dua Lipa has been forced to pay for more survey costs for her home renovation after architects said the work may risk uncovering exploded World War II bombs.

The 28-year-old singer has already fought a long-standing planning battle to extend her West Hampstead home, with plans that include a new pool in the basement of the property.

However, architects then had to advise her that her home was at risk of housing bombs from the Blitz, so she would need additional clearance before renovating her house.

What renovation work was Dua Lipa hoping to do?

Dua Lipa won a two-year planning battle to renovate her £6.75 million home last year, with the proposed additions including a pool, steam room, cinema, studio and a 'relaxation zone'.

The plans also involved expanding the basement to house the pool, the addition of a single-storey rear extension, and the creation of new spaces across three floors - including a ground-floor entrance hall, dining room and library, as well as a master suite on the first floor and guest bedrooms on the second.

Additionally, the plans called for demolishing an existing rear extension and replacing it with a new one.

Pop-star told to pay for Unexploded Ordnance survey

Despite finally gaining planning permission, the three-time Grammy award winner was delayed again after being told by her architects there was a risk of uncovering unexploded World War Two bombs.

Her West Hampstead home is said to be in an area that was heavily bombed during the Blitz. Several other properties in the area have previously found bombs, and as her project involves demolishing an extension and renovating the basement, the risk of exposing bombs was deemed significant.

Consequently she was required to pay for a Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) survey to scan the grounds of her home for any risk of bombs.

Dua Lipa given all clear to finally start her renovations

However, after conducting the UXO survey, Dua Lipa was given the all-clear to start her renovation works as no bombs were found.

Builders have now begun digging underneath the basement and knocking down walls to extend the house.

Although, according to the planning documents, any work must be carried out under strict planning conditions with Section 106 requirements to minimise disturbance to neighbouring homes in the conservation area.

Due to previous objections over the loss of green space, the construction must be extremely quiet with the use of power tools kept to a minimum, and equipment fitted with anti-vibration insulators.