A couple face a £300,000 bill after failing to tell buyers of their £1million home about plans for an American-style drive-thru and motel next door.

Philip Ash, 66, and his wife Elisabeth, 62, advertised “a stunning barn conversion with excellent equestrian facilities” near the village of Buckland, Oxfordshire.

But what they didn’t tell househunters Adrian and Lisa Powell was that plans had already been approved for a 50s-style diner and motel on adjoining land, complete with floodlit car park and huge neon signs.

The Powells pulled out the day before the £1.085million sale was due to be completed.

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Property developer and dad-of-two Mr Powell, 53, testified at Central London county court that he was “horrified” when he found out about the motel.

He and his wife offered £900,000 instead but, when rejected, sued the Ashes for return of their 10% deposit plus damages.

Judge Simon Monty QC ruled that the Ashes should have mentioned the planned development on a form they filled in before the sale, and noted that they had led local objections to it being allowed.

He ordered the Ashes to return the Powells’ deposit plus interest and reimburse them for costs of the cancelled purchase, totalling more than £110,000.

The Ashes must also pay the Powells’ court costs of up to £97,000 and their own legal bills are thought to be £109,000, meaning a total bill exceeding £300,000.

The Powells later sold the house for £975,000, and Mollie’s Motel – owned by the Soho House chain – opened in January 2019 with a launch party attended by celebs including Declan Donnelly, Jeremy Clarkson and Paloma Faith.

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