Boxd coffee refused permission for Midleton drive-thru

Planners in Cork County Council rejected the application, citing planning and traffic concerns.

Cork coffee shop chain Boxd has been refused planning permission to keep its drive-thru coffee kiosk in Midleton.

Planners in Cork County Council rejected the application in a decision published on Friday, citing planning and traffic concerns.

Boxd, which also operates coffee outlets in Ballincollig, the Carrigrohane Straight Road and the Bandon Road, opened the Midleton outlet in January. In June, the company said it was closing the outlet due to planning issues which they said they hoped would be a "temporary measure."

"The business has been fully viable and incredibly well received by the people of Midleton, clearly demonstrating the need for facilities such as ours within the town," the company wrote on social media at the time.

In their planning application, Boxd said they operate a number of successful café developments across Cork and the Midleton outlet had created 15 jobs within the town as well as supporting suppliers locally, and has played a significant role in supporting the local economy in the last number of months.

"Due to the development’s relatively minor scale, location and offering it is considered that it will not detract from, or present an undue risk, to the vibrancy and vitality of the Midleton Town Centre," the application states.

However, planners in County Hall gave two reasons for rejecting the proposal. They said the development, outside the town centre, would conflict with objectives to promote the development of town centres and neighbourhood centres as the primary locations for retail.

They also said the drive-thru would result in traffic queuing on the Midleton Northern Relief Road, which is an important transport corridor needed to cater for larger residential expansion in the area. "It is likely to impact on the enduring function of the relief road as an essential transport corridor for existing and future planned development. Accordingly, the proposed development, if permitted, would endanger public safety by impacting the free flow of traffic and causing the obstruction of road users," the council said.

Boxd has the option of appealing the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Boxd, headed by cousins Michael Harding and Aidan Kiely, is currently awaiting a planning decision to retain its drive-thru on the Carrigrhane Straight Road, which remains open for business. A decision on that application is expected this month.

Separately, the company was granted permission for a new outlet on Cork's Washington Street last week.

The chain has secured planning permission to change the use of the vacant ground-floor office at Florence Buildings on the corner of Washington St and Hanover Place into a cafe. Planners have approved the change, which includes new windows and signage.

The company confirmed the new location will operate as an outlet of Boxd but has yet to confirm an opening date.