Coffee chain Boxd appeals councils’ planning refusals

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

As the company continues its expansion, 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 and was closed by Boxd in June, after which it lodged a planning application to retain the outlet.

County planners refused retention in August, finding the drive-through would cause traffic queuing on the Midleton northern relief road and endanger safety by impeding the free flow of traffic. 

They also said the development outside the town would conflict with objectives to promote the development of town centres as the primary locations for retail.

The Carrigrohane Rd 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 has a drive-through and walk-up café on Ballincollig’s link road, a café on the Bandon Rd, the Swoon dessert outlet on Oliver Plunkett St, 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 St 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.