A supplementary desk-based assessment was undertaken of land off Swanpool Walk, St John's, Worcester (NGR: SO 8415 5435), in order to update current understanding of a development site. Three linked desk-based assessments were undertaken in 2000-1. This supplementary desk-based assessment was undertaken in view of the changing knowledge of the historic environment of this part of Worcester between 2001 and 2007. The supplementary desk-based assessment examined the evidence for a prehistoric enclosure, which can be partially mapped, although archaeological evidence is lacking. The development site occupies the southeast quadrant of the putative enclosure. Recent archaeological fieldwork revealed part of a Romano-British field system immediately east of the development site: it is probable that the field system extends into the development site. The development site adjoins a long row of house plots along the south side of St John's. It is clear that the house plots developed as part of the suburb of St John's from the late 12th century, and a recent archaeological evaluation in a backplot has produced evidence for medieval occupation. The development site includes areas that lie within medieval backplots, and these areas have considerable potential. The character of the suburb of St John's saw little change in the post-medieval period, with some workshops and associated buildings built on backplots. The development site includes areas that lie within post-medieval backplots, and these areas have archaeological potential. There was varied low-intensity usage of the fields that occupied the rest of the development site in the post-medieval period, and buildings included a number of barns. The need for archaeological field evaluation to determine the character and survival of buried archaeological deposits throughout the development area is confirmed.