Four bronze heads in a West Sussex town are to remain on the list of sites of special architectural or historic interest with a Grade II-listing.
The decision to uphold the listing for the Desert Quartet in Worthing was confirmed by the government.
The sculptures, designed by Dame Elisabeth Frink, have been above the Montague shopping centre for 18 years.
Campaigners had feared they would be removed following a proposal to replace them by the centre's developer.
The Worthing Society was joined by the town's arts council, the 20th Century Society and the Public Sculptures and Monuments Association in a bid to protect the sculptures.
'Magnificent sculptures'
The groups applied to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for Grade I "spot listing", which protects artistic or architectural property that could be "in imminent danger of damage or loss".
However, the Secretary of State has now confirmed that the Frink Heads should remain Grade II-listed, meaning the sculptures are of more than special interest.
Councillor Joan Bradley, of Worthing Borough Council, said: "A previous application to remove these sculptures has been dismissed at appeal and this decision to uphold the listing will, hopefully, ensure that the public can continue to enjoy these magnificent sculptures in the future."
The Desert Quartet heads were commissioned when the shopping centre was being developed.
Dame Elisabeth died three years after their unveiling in 1990, at the age of 62.
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