Paying deposit on a new build

Claree__x

Morning everyone, hope you're well.
I just want to clarify something that seems a bit odd to me, before going back to my solicitor.

We are purchasing a new build in Scotland, due to complete in July. We have paid the £500 reservation fee direct to the builder and have now signed missives and exchanged contracts through our solicitor. Part of the agreement was to pay a further £2,000 of our deposit upon signing of missives, and this is what I'm trying to do now.

I contacted my solicitor as I presumed payment would be made through them and he's told me to make a cheque out directly to the builder and either send it to them directly or to him to send on. I contacted the builder to find out where I should send this to and they've said that the funds should come from the solicitor (ie. I should pay the solicitor, not direct).

When I called the solicitor back yesterday he said it'd be 'more hassle' and would involve anti money laudering checks (which I would hope were done by now regardless!) and I should just send the cheque. I should say, I think the solicitor is horribly rude, but we're too far into the process to change now.

Am I right in thinking that the builder are correct and we should pay the solicitor to then pay them or are they being awkward? I don't know anyone who's bought a new build recently so just looking to find out what others have done?