@JohnMo Good questiions. Sounds like The firm building the house will simply be the main contractor. But i agree, it is confusing ?
I will try and put my own situation, which sounds similar.
I Own the land.
I have a building company. Limited. It is dormant but i file returns.
I instruct my building company to build the house, and i pay it, each time it issues me with an invoice.
The company, builds the house, Zero rating my invoices as applicable.
The company reclaims any Vat paid, every quarter as applicable.
At the end the company shows a small profit, and deals with that as its own entity.
I get the benefit of effectively not having to wait until the end to get my VAT back as a self builder.
The above is my intention...