The revelation comes as the number of cranes on the UK’s skyline dropped to its lowest point in over two years.

The concentration of cranes in the capital graphically highlights the construction slowdown in other parts of the country.

The crane data was compiled by legal experts Pinsent Masons.

Graham Robinson, Global Business Consultant in the Infrastructure Sector at Pinsent Masons said: “People often look at the number of cranes as a barometer of the health of UK construction.

“If that is correct, then we should be concerned. The lack of cranes on UK skylines is symbolic of the sharp falls in new commercial and public-sector construction seen in the last year and the lack of positive UK infrastructure policy.

“It is also a sign that construction projects are getting smaller, forcing larger construction companies to compete for smaller projects.”

The data shows that:

• only 413 tower cranes were erected around the UK in the first six months of 2012 – almost half the figure for the same period in 2011

• Only 200 cranes appeared on the London skyline in the past six months compared to 366 for the same period in 2011, a fall of 45%

• the dearth of major construction projects in UK cities outside London is worse with an overall fall of over 50%. While 200 cranes have been erected in London in the first half of 2012, only 28 have been established across major UK cities including Aberdeen (2), Birmingham (7), Edinburgh (8), Glasgow (3), Manchester (8), and Leeds (0) over the same period

• of the cities surveyed, Glasgow has been subject to a steep drop-off in projects, with an 85% drop off in new cranes being erected

 Number of Tower Crane Notifications 2011-12

Source: Pinsent Masons / Health and Safety Executive