Border Archaeology (BA) was instructed by Mr D Said & Mrs A Said to undertake an Archaeological Desk Based Assessment with regard to a planning application for the demolition of an existing one-bedroom flat and café at 335 Hall Lane, Chingford, London E4 8PY, and the construction of five new flats, comprising two flats at ground level, two flats at first floor level and one flat at second floor level, along with the provision of associated private and communal amenity space, car parking, bin and cycle stores. This ADBA assesses the impact of the proposed development on buried heritage assets (archaeological remains). It forms an initial stage of investigation of the proposed development site and may be required in relation to the planning process, so that the local planning authority can formulate an appropriate response in the light of the impact upon any known or potential heritage assets. These are parts of the historic environment which are considered to be significant because of their historic, evidential or aesthetic and/or communal interest. The overall potential of the site in archaeological terms has thus been assessed as Moderate with particular reference to encountering evidence of prehistoric and medieval activity. This assessment primarily reflects the location of the site within an Archaeological Priority Area associated with the River Lea and its tributaries. Studies carried out as part of the Lower Lea Valley Mapping Project have demonstrated that the site probably lay on the W edge of a low gravel terrace (Landscape Zone 4.8) close to the confluence of the Rivers Lea and Ching. This suggests that there may have been slightly drier conditions in this area during the early prehistoric, which might potentially have been conducive to human activity. There is also potential to encounter evidence of alluvial clay or peat deposits overlying the natural gravels, which could possibly contain waterlogged organic remains yielding valuable information regarding on past environmental changes and early habitation. The depth of the gravels and overlying alluvial/peat deposits in this specific area is unclear, although extensive made ground deposits have been identified in nearby archaeological and geotechnical investigations, well in excess of 1m below existing ground level. Nevertheless, should deep excavations (for piled foundations) be required, then it is possible that evidence of alluvial/peat deposits may be encountered. The potential for en...