It is often said that one of the best ways to assess the economic prosperity of a place is by counting the number of cranes that dot the skyline. On that measure, the southeast of England – a large and diverse area encompassing 19 counties that includes the Thames Valley, Kent and Sussex – is booming.

“With all the money from Europe pouring in, you cannot move for cranes,” says Vizards Wyeth managing partner Jason Rowley (pictured).