Hartlepool Borough Council reported saving over £1.2 million (US $1.86 million) in a project to upgrade 13,644 sodium-vapor streetlights into energy-saving LED streetlights, according to a news from local British media Hartlepool Mail.

The project was launched with a budget of £5 million, but is now expected to be £3.8 million. “This saving has only come about as a result of a very effective procurement exercise carried out by council officers which enabled us to buy the new LED lighting units for £800,000 less than originally estimated.” Councillor Marjorie James, chairman of the Neighbourhood Services Committee said.

“And other efficiencies made by our in-house installation team have taken the total saving to £1.2 million.” James added.

However, the project receives some criticism from residents for creating some dark areas between streetlights compared to traditional streetlights.

James says the council might use the £1.2 million from the savings to compensate this problem, “As a result (of the savings), we are now in a position to make a substantial investment in tackling the deteriorating condition of streetlight columns in various parts of the town – work for which we had not been able to previously identify funding.”