The desire to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and use public transport means “low value for money” schemes will be given financial backing.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is responsible for funding and approving major highway and transport works across the region.

When weighing up which schemes will get funding, the Authority looks at that scheme’s “benefit cost ratio” – essentially if the improvements created by the scheme are worth the money that is being spent on it.

At a meeting of the Authority’s Investment Committee on Wednesday a number of schemes were approved, including £48 million worth of road improvements between Shipley and Bradford and a £5 million refurbishment of Leeds Bus Station.

Members were told that using the current system of determining a project’s value for money, private motorists are given a higher priority than public transport users.

This means many car-based projects, such as the Shipley/Bradford scheme, are seen as “very high” value for money while projects such as bus lane improvements or station works are classed as “low value” for money.

The committee was told that it was important to provide financial backing for bus schemes, which can help reduce emissions, even if on the face of it it appeared to be spending money on a scheme with minimal financial benefits.

Melanie Corcoran, director of delivery, said: “This system favours the motorist. We have a number of schemes that are trying to increase bus patronage.

“With these schemes the benefit cost ratio may not seem as high as highways schemes. But it is important we still put these schemes forward.”

One of the “low value” schemes that was moved forward by the committee was £5 million works to improve Leeds Bus Station.

The scheme will include more user-friendly facilities and solar panels on the roof.

The overall project will cost £4.984 million, and members of the West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee approved a  £350,000 grant to create a full business case for the works at last week’s meeting.

The works will be funded by the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme and include upgrading passenger facilities by creating new seating areas, self-service units and retail units, public realm and signage improvements to ensure the bus station remains accessible for all users, and upgrades to the fabric of station building.

This will include the installation of solar panels to improve energy efficiency.

Helen Ellerton, policy manager, said: “These will be customer facing improvements to the bus station. It will improve the waiting area and make the whole customer experience a much higher standard.

“There will be improvements to retail and the travel centre, and it will make the station an easier place to move through.

“It will make waiting for the bus a much better experience for passengers.

“There are a lot of works going on to improve facilities in the city centre, this work will attempt to bring the bus station up to that same level.”

She said the bus station would remain open during works, which would be phased.

When she was jokingly asked if the works would lead to the station’s Greggs becoming larger she said: “I have been told that the Greggs in that station is the most well used in the country.”

Councillor Jane Scullion, from Calderdale Council, said: “It is good to see photo voltaic panels planned, but it isn’t enough. We have to look at all possible ways of greening this site.”

The committee approved funding for a full business case for the project.

Work is likely to start in December 2020 and be completed by March

2021.