Marilyn Monroe's former Los Angeles home has been saved from demolition.

The Spanish colonial-style property in the Brentwood area has been granted historic cultural monument status after being at the centre of a dispute between fans of the Hollywood icon and its wealthy owners.

The property – which Monroe bought for $75,000 just six months before her death in 1962 – was purchased by heiress Brinah Milstein and her TV producer husband Roy Bank for $8.35 million last July and the couple had planned to bulldoze it for the expansion of their estate.

However, fans of the 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' star objected to the plans and have come out on top in the row after Los Angeles officials voted unanimously to give the house cultural monument status.

Kim Cooper, who runs the LA touring company Esotouric, told The Times newspaper: "Many, many people are feeling great relief today because something they know is important is protected.

"The city has done the right thing and they've put the memory of Marilyn Monroe and the significance of her place on this planet in the front of everyone's mind."

Council member Traci Park added that it would have been "devastating" for the city had the property been demolished.

She said during the hearing: "To lose this piece of history, the only home that Monroe ever owned, would be a devastating blow for historic preservation and for a city where less than three per cent of historic designations are associated with women's heritage."

However, plans have been drawn up to limit the number of tourist buses that visit the house – where Marilyn passed away after an apparent overdose at the age of 36 – after the owners expressed frustration at the constant footfall.