Hello Alexphd1,
As other commentators have indicated, it is important to rely on profesionals experienced on the ground. People who know well their work and have passed the hard learning process already (I'm a Spanish architect, I know how painful dealing with the administration can get to be).
There are ways to skip the obligation of needing a registered builder, but you will defenetely need an architect to sign your project. He can also be useful to introduce you on the local techniques, since they are different as in the UK. Urban Planning and legal assessment is also a key point. You don't want an ugly surprise after you bought the plot.
If you have further questions, I'll be glad to help.
