Hi. I have bought a block in a residential estate just north of metro Melbourne. I would like to owner build a container home. I checked before purchasing the land to make sure it wasn't forbidden under some sort of covenant on the estate. I have to comply with the estate design regulations, and have a design approved by their design review committee, but I think that is doable.
I have checked with my local council, they've said I will need to submit engineering approval with any plans to show the container structure is safe as a dwelling when applying for a building permit.
I have a design that I have roughed out, but I am sure there are a myriad of things I have not considered. I'd like to take the next logical step, but I don't know what that is. Do I need a draftsperson? An architect? I know I need an engineer, but I figured that would be after a design was settled on. Or can an engineer help with design? I'm very green and naive, but at least I am aware of that.