Archaeological Evaluation at Chance Lane, Great Malvern, Worcestershire

An archaeological desk-based assessment and evaluation was undertaken by Worcestershire Archaeology in October 2025 year at Chance Lane, Great Malvern, Worcestershire (NGR SO 80329 45773). The project was commissioned by Colin Williams of The Planning Studio. The assessment and evaluation were undertaken to support a planning application for the proposed construction of nine dwellings with associated access road and landscaping (M/25/00600/PIP) and was completed in order to understand the significance and presence of any heritage assets potentially impacted by the development. The desk-based assessment indicated that the site had low to negligible potential for the survival of remains other than those of medieval date but that there was the potential for locally to regionally significant remains relating to Baldenhall deserted medieval village (WSM05732) to be present within the proposed development site, including the remains of the Chapel of St Leonards' chapel and associated graveyard. No significant archaeological finds, features or deposits. The subsequent evaluation trenching of the site revealed archaeological remains to be present beyond documented field boundaries and a single modern posthole. A slight drop in elevation from the Chapel Orchard northern portion of the site was delineated by the field boundary mapped on the 1841 tithe. Slight evidence of ploughed out ridge and furrow was also recorded in the southern portion of the site, conforming to that represented on Lidar imagery. The site appears to have been in long term agricultural use as part of the rural hinterland of the village of Baldenhall. The methods adopted allow a high degree of confidence that the aims of the project have been achieved. A range of suitable sources were consulted, and a site visit was undertaken, allowing the nature, distribution and significance of heritage assets on and around the proposed development site to be assessed. It is considered that the results provide an informed characterisation of the historic environment and the likelihood for potential heritage assets to exist on the proposed development site. Conditions were suitable in all of the trenches to identify the presence or absence of archaeological features. It is considered that the negative values of the archaeological evaluation represent an accurate characterisation of the development site as a whole.