Cork coffee chain Boxd has applied for retention permission for its Midleton kiosk, which the county council ordered to cease trading last week for not having planning permission.
Cork County Council confirmed that it opened a planning enforcement file into the case after inspecting the development, which was found to be operating without planning permission.
A spokesperson for the council said it had recommended proceedings to seek that Boxd cease its unauthorised use of the site at Knockgriffin, with the matter remaining an active enforcement case.
Now, applicant CC & H Imperial Ltd has lodged plans with the County Hall seeking retention permission for the coffee kiosk.
It said the development to be retained would consist of two modified shipping containers to be used for a drive-thru coffee kiosk, modifications to the existing vehicular entrance and four staff car parking spaces.
It is also seeking planning permission to use the shipping containers as a drive-thru coffee kiosk, to decommission an onsite septic tank and to connect the kiosk to the existing foul sewer located on the Northern Relief Road.
Cork County Council is due to decide on the development by August 12.
The coffee chain opened its East Cork location earlier this year, which Boxd said was "fully viable" and "incredibly well received by the people of Midleton."
Boxd said that while the current economic climate presents challenges for many businesses, having to close a successful one is "particularly difficult."
The company said it has been, and will continue to be, "in active engagement" with the council as it works towards reopening as soon as possible.
Last week, the Irish Examiner reported that another popular Boxd chain had also been operating for almost six years without planning permission.
Cork City Council confirmed Boxd's drive-thru on Carrigrohane Road was operating without planning approval, with a warning letter being sent to the business earlier this year.
"We confirm that planning was never sought for a drive-thru café on Carrigrohane Road," the spokesperson said.
"A warning letter has been issued, but the City Council does not comment on live planning files, enforcement files and investigations."
The Carrigrohane Road kiosk was the first opened by Boxd, which was established in November 2020 by cousins Michael Harding and Aidan Kiely. The pair operate two other Boxd chains, located on Bandon Road and in Ballincollig.
