An old farmhouse countless shoppers will have driven past for years to get to a Swindon Sainsbury's could be knocked down. 

The building on Oxford Road has been abandoned for some time and recently became home to a number of nesting pigeons which had to be rescued after it was bordered up. 

It has stood in the area since 1905, but if plans for a new 'retail park' on the land it's situated on are approved next to the A420, it will be knocked down. 

This follows the sale of the land known as Home Farm, which was formerly owned by Sainsbury's to developer RO group who want to 'emulate the success' they've had with Solstice Park in Amesbury. 

A spokesperson confirmed to the Advertiser the longstanding fixture would not be retained if they were successful.

They said: "The old building is not set to remain and the new development at Home Farm will be a modern mixed-use scheme – akin to what the RO Group has created at Solstice Park in Amesbury – comprising a number of attractive contemporary structures. 

"All is subject to planning."

Home Farm, outlined in red, the potential future 'retail park' near SwindonHome Farm, outlined in red, the potential future 'retail park' near Swindon (Image: RO Group)

The Shrivenham Heritage Society has a post on the building in question on its website.

It said: "One of the members of the Shrivenham Heritage Society discovered some family photographs of the Greenaway family to whom she is related.

"The photographs are dated circa 1905 and show Arthur Thomas Greenaway and his family outside the farmhouse mentioned above."

In its initial announcement, the RO Group said it was delighted to have completed the acquisition of Home Farm. 

It said that circa 22,500 cars pass every day, making it the ideal location for the Group to develop a strategic mixed-use scheme that will generate job opportunities for Swindon and cement its status as an important regional centre for commerce.

It added that the 9.7-acre site offers potential for a number of different uses including roadside retail, industrial, logistics and storage. 

Nick Cashmore, investment director, the RO said: "We are delighted to have invested in Swindon, and we look forward to developing this site into a thriving mixed-use scheme.

"We have diligently searched for sites in the South of England and are pleased to have now identified the perfect location for our next major development.

“The site is excellently placed on the A420 Swindon to Oxford road making it an ideal location for a variety of potential uses. The area is already a hive of activity. Neighbouring occupiers include major retailers such as Sainsbury’s and Dunelm as well as the regional distribution hubs for Amazon and Iceland."