Work has started to replace all Surrey's 89,000 streetlights with environmental “smart lamps” in the biggest project of its kind ever seen in Britain.

On Monday, work began in Reigate which will eventually rid the county of its night-time orange glow and replace it with the clarity of brighter white lights, increasing visibility and making the county’s streets safer for motorists and pedestrians.

All Surrey’s streetlights will be replaced or refurbished with smart lamps linked to Britain’s most powerful dimmer switch.

The new energy efficient technology is expected to save more than 60,000 tons of carbon emissions over the next 25 years.

It is also set to save Surrey taxpayers at least £12 million over the same period due to lower energy bills and a better contract deal.

There will also be a reduction in light pollution because the new lights direct their beam downwards.

The individual lights can be remotely controlled from a control centre in Merrow, Guildford.

At present, Surrey’s street lights are programmed to come on and go off at set times in the day, with little opportunity to make energy savings.

But under the new system, lighting will be increased where it is most needed and reduced where it is not.

This means that, for example, the lighting can be changed as the sun begins to rise in the morning or sets at night at different times of the year, and to adapt to local light conditions.

The project is being paid for mainly by a Private Finance Initiative.

Surrey County Council leader Dr Andrew Povey said: “This will be the largest scale introduction of this type of street lighting technology ever seen in Britain and meets with our aim to make Surrey one of the best places in the world to live.”

Surrey County Council cabinet member for transport Ian Lake said: “The bright white lights will increase visibility and make Surrey residents feel safer.

“The new technology is a lot more energy efficient than our current street lights which means financial and energy savings which are good for the pocket and the environment.”

Even though the energy output of lights can be reduced to save energy and money, in these instances the new more natural white light will still be clearer than the current orange glow.

The contractor for the project is private sector consortium Skanska John Laing.

Steve Sams, executive Vice President of Skanska Infrastructure Development UK, said: “The commencement marks an important milestone in providing safer, energy efficient public lighting services for the people of Surrey.”

David Hardy, director of John Laing Investments, said: “In these resource- constrained times, we look forward to delivering an improved street lighting service for the people of Surrey and at the same time reducing the cost to taxpayers.”

All the streetlights in Surrey will be upgraded over the next five years – 70,000 being replaced and 19,000 refurbished.

The council said this will lead to savings of more than 60,000 tons of carbon and 150 million kilowatt hours over the 25-year contract.

A computer will automatically detect if a light is faulty which means repairs can be made more quickly.

The project is being funded by a Private Finance Initiative grant worth £73.9 million from central government.

The day to day running of the system will be covered by the council’s existing street lighting budget.

The work began last week in Reigate, Banstead, Guildford and Spelthorne, and is expected to take a year to complete in each district.

Once these areas are finished, work will take place in Elmbridge, Waverley and Tandridge, then Runnymede, Surrey Heath, Epsom and Ewell, then Woking and Mole Valley.

The project will take five years to complete.