Britain's biggest Chinese food importer is to annexe a road as part of expansion plans for headquarters in Birmingham.

Wing Yip will create 50 extra jobs as well as secure the 130 existing jobs at its wholesale unit in Nechells after winning planning permission to expand into Railway Terrace.

The firm had suggested it could move to another city if it was not allowed to expand, and won unanimous backing from Birmingham’s planning committee.

Coun Bob Beauchamp (Cons, Erdington) said: “Wing Yip is one of the business success stories for Birmingham and we would very much like to keep their headquarters in the city.”

The approval means Wing Yip can extend its current warehouse over the service yards and build a second warehouse replacing some light industrial buildings.

Wing Yip spokesman David Futter said: “We are securing this site in Birmingham as the company’s UK headquarters.

“This will keep the existing 130 jobs and create a further 50 full and part-time jobs which are much needed in this part of Birmingham.”

But the firm had to overcome opposition from three neighbouring businesses to its proposal to turn part of Railway Terrace into its delivery service yard.

Battery charger manufacturer Frank W Murphy, also based in Railway Terrace, claimed that the move could harm businesses by removing parking spaces and increasing journey times, leading to the estimated loss of 35 manufacturing jobs in the area.

Spokeswoman, Joanna Norris, of Business Property Law, said: “This will reduce available parking for employees by about 18. There are also problems with the lorries queueing along Railway Terrace to get into the site. It will have a detrimental effect on businesses.”

The planning committee asked the transport department to look into the traffic situation and consider removing pavements to create more on-street parking.

Oriental cuisine wholesaler Wing Yip started in Birmingham 40 years ago and now has stores in Manchester, Cricklewood and Croydon.