Tom Sheppard, one of two main investors in the Wilson-Given development, said three of the five commercial buildings planned at 1144 Wilson St. W. should be complete by next spring. Crews are currently completing asphalt paving and exterior landscaping on the first building. A drug store and X-ray and diagnostic centre will be among the first tenants.

Upon completion, the Wilson- Given development will include an additional 52,000 square-feet of non-medical commercial space.

“In every small town it’s very hard to get doctors,” Sheppard said. “Having a medical centre like that is a real plus.”

Jane Walker, Hamilton’s physician recruitment specialist, said lack of medical office space is just one contributing factor to the city’s physician shortage. Recent statistics show Hamilton is short about 40 family physicians and more than 40,000 residents lack a family doctor.

“There are a lot of new homes in that area and a lot of new people in Ancaster, but we haven’t seen any increase in the number of physicians,” Walker said. “It is good news that these facilities are being built.”

Walker said the city is also pressing the provincial government to declare Hamilton an under-serviced area for physicians, a designation that has already been granted to Burlington. Physicians who agree to practice in an under-serviced are eligible for financial incentives including tuition grants.

“Burlington is designated and it’s taking doctors away from places like Ancaster,” Walker said.

Walker said the city’s board of health is also endorsing the provincial government’s plans to allow international medical graduates to practice in any urban centre in Ontario, except the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa.

She said the proposed legislation could help alleviate the city’s doctor shortage.

Initially approved in April, 2008, the Wilson-Given development has been slowed by the recession, Sheppard said.

“It’s taken us a little bit longer,” Sheppard said. “We’re just been patient and we’ve built as the tenants commit.”

Zoning amendments secured in April, 2008 permit general commercial businesses, plus cultural, community and institutional uses permitted by the Ancaster official plan.