A developer is appealing against a decision barring him from moving four giant sculptured heads.
Humphrey Avon, of Worthing-based company The Avon Group, wants to remove the bronze busts from the Montague Centre in Worthing and take them to his home in Bramber, near Steyning.
But last September Worthing borough councillors refused planning permission for the move after objections.
Now Mr Avon, who developed the Montague Centre and paid for the heads, has appealed to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
The appeal will be determined by the Planning Inspectorate.
The busts, called Desert Quartet, were made by Dame Elisabeth Frink and unveiled at the Montague Centre in Liverpool Gardens in 1991.
They sparked controversy, with one councillor calling them "horrible".
Mr Avon is offering to replace the heads with but the council said the new sculptures would fail to enhance the town centre conservation area.
The Worthing Society and English Heritage have also objected.
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