The coffee chain was served with an enforcement notice in March
13:05, 07 Jul 2026Updated 13:06, 07 Jul 2026
Boxd on the Carrigrohane Road, better known as the ‘Straight Road’ for many Leesiders(Image: Google Maps)
Weeks after Boxd closed its unit in Midleton due to a planning dispute, the chain has applied for planning permission to keep its location on the Straight Road open.
The coffee chain was forced to close its East Cork location after it emerged that it had been using the site without planning permission, and a warning letter issued to the operators in March shows that its sister location in Cork city was also unauthorised.
An enforcement notice on the council’s website states that the operators were served with a warning letter on March 6 regarding an unauthorised structure and the unauthorised use of the site. However, unlike its sister location in Midleton, the coffee kiosk along the Straight Road remains in operation.
According to the council’s website, the unauthorised development first came under scrutiny in March 2021, and it took close to five years for the warning letter to be issued. The kiosk first opened at the site in November of 2020, which means the planning irregularity was raised less than six months after it began operations.
The retention application requests a change of use at the site to a coffee shop operation and associated warehouse use. Operators CC & H Imperial Ltd have requested permission to redevelop the site, which will involve the demolition and replacement of the existing warehouse building.
The application requests permission for a new kitchen, office, staff welfare facilities and the relocation of the existing kiosk, outdoor seating area and drive-thru. If approved, new bicycle parking and footpath upgrade works will also be carried out.
Another retention application has been submitted to Cork County Council regarding the kiosk in Midleton, which has been shut since June 15 due to the ongoing planning dispute. The owners emphasised that the decision to close was driven entirely by the planning concerns, as the business has been ‘very well received’ in the town.
A previous planning application was lodged at the Midleton site in June 2023, proposing the construction of a drive-thru café and a food services area that could accommodate up to 12 food trucks. The application was refused by Cork County Council due to zoning issues with the land.
In assessing these applications, traffic impact is likely to be a key concern for planners, as queues spilling onto roadways during busy periods can pose a potential hazard to other drivers.
Cork County Council will make a decision on the Midleton application by August 12, and Cork City Council will give its verdict on the Straight Road location by August 25.