Yes, cranes are all over the place, but required (9)
I believe the answer is:
necessary
'required' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'yes cranes are all over the place' is the wordplay.
'are all over the place' is an anagram indicator.
'yes'+'cranes'='yescranes'
'yescranes' anagrammed gives 'NECESSARY'.
'but' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for necessary that I've seen before include "Essential or unavoidable" , "Essential, needed" , "the money?" , "Fundamental" , "Inescapable" .)