Richmond will light up with more than 7,000 energy-efficient LED streetlights which will replace the current concrete lighting columns and sodium streetlights from September 2019.

The new installation will be controlled by a computer management software program that has been specifically designed to be overseen by the Council.

The new steel streetlights will help to reduce running costs because they will use up to 60 per cent less energy and will save around 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per kwh a year.

Cllr Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee, said: "Many of our streetlights are nearing the end of their life and will need replacing so it makes good sense to replace them with the latest technology.

"We have already replaced around 4,000 streetlamps with the new energy efficient bulbs, so I am delighted that we are now able to roll this out to every area of the borough.

“Last week we launched a consultation on our Climate Change strategy and Air Quality action plan, and this is just one of the things we are doing to become as clean and green as possible.

“In addition, the cost to maintain them is lower, which is a welcome benefit for local tax-payers.”

The new street lighting has a design-life expectancy of around 25 years and will also have a 4000k colour rendition which could turn down lighting levels during the night.

The Council is hoping that the changes to the borough’s street lighting will save at least 1,000 tonnes of CO2 a year which in turn will reduce its financial costs.

A further 7,000 mild steel lighting columns will be replaced by 10,000 LED streetlights over a duration of five years.

Richmond is also offering residents the opportunity to request ‘Heritage’ styled columns however, residents will have to pay the additional costs for the installation.