Urban policy, 'modesty' and 'misunderstanding': on the mythology of 'partnership' in urban Scotland

Paisley's Ferguslie Park had been designated as an urban policy 'Partnership Area' under a new government programme labelled New Life for Urban Scotland. In this chapter, the authors need to understand the apparently consensual language of 'partnership' in which the New Life programme was elaborated. New Life has created a platform that, with good continuation partnerships and fair economic weather, gives residents the chance of a sustainable improvement in their quality of life. It has long been known that improvements to housing stock and the environment are the least difficult part of 'urban regeneration'. One of the main aims of New Life was to reduce 'dependency' by increasing labour market participation. The evaluation report uses the term 'quality of life' to encompass a 'diverse and subjective' range of aspects of regeneration - including education, crime, poverty, health and community activity.