Boxd appeals drive-thru refusals in Midleton and Carrigrohane

Company is seeking to overturn the decisions by Cork County Council and Cork City Council, lodging separate appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála

Despite the two refusals, the chain has continued to expand. It operates a drive-thru and walk-up café on Ballincollig's Link Road, a café on the Bandon Road, the Swoon dessert outlet on Oliver Plunkett Street and a kiosk in Douglas.

Cork coffee chain Boxd has appealed separate refusals by Cork County Council and Cork City Council to let it retain drive-thrus in Midleton and on the Carrigrohane Straight Road. 

As the company continues the expansion of its network, opening a new outlet in the Blackpool Shopping Centre in recent days, it is seeking to overturn the decisions by both councils, lodging separate appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

The Midleton outlet opened in January of this year and was closed by the company in June after which it lodged a planning application to retain the outlet. 

County planners refused retention in August, finding the drive-thru would cause traffic queuing on the Midleton Northern Relief Road and would endanger public safety by impeding the free flow of traffic. They also said the development, outside the town centre, would conflict with objectives to promote the development of town centres as the primary locations for retail.

The Carrigrohane Road kiosk has operated since November 2020. A similar application to retain the outlet was lodged by Boxd earlier this year. However, city planners refused permission in August citing traffic and zoning concerns. The outlet continues to trade.

Despite the two refusals, the chain has continued to expand. It operates a drive-thru and walk-up café on Ballincollig's Link Road, a café on the Bandon Road, the Swoon dessert outlet on Oliver Plunkett Street and a kiosk in Douglas.

In August, City Hall granted change-of-use permission to convert a vacant ground-floor office at Florence Buildings, on the corner of Washington Street and Hanover Place, into a café, while the company said it would open a further outlet in a vacant unit at Blackpool Shopping Centre in September. Boxd has said the expansion will take its workforce above 100.

Final planning decisions on both outlets are expected in January and February.