is the ceiling in the low area lined with plasterboard or does it have exposed beams supporting the overhead room? what is the floor of the low area built out of? i've seen a room where the ceiling plaster board was removed to expose the beams of the overhead floor and then the ceiling height was considered to be from the floor to the higher space between the beams and in the same room a portion of an existing concrete floor was dug out and lowered to make a proportion of the room taller..(the lower height space was used as a kitchen and part used as a workshop)...worth discussing options with building inspector and assume nothing, i tell them what i would like to achieve and they often suggest excellent ideas but i wonder if a kitchenette build like a Euro laundry with bifold doors might work in the cabana but depends on available space

I'm not really concerned by the existing area, it's more where I wish to pit the kitchenette as its bringing an outdoor area inside. My understanding was minimum 2.1 for that but I was advised today if I went that way they would require 2.4 so trying to figure out where I stand.

I can't fully understand all of that , but some thoughts --

2.1 is pretty low -- I'm 1.85 so 20% of people will not look at purchasing this when you eventually sell . Can the floor be lowered -- cost is probably prohibitive , but my suggestion would be that if it can be done but will cost too much , is forget it , because everyone else will come to the same conclusion ?

Also , an open cabana could be cold , especially as you are likely to use it first thing and then at dusk -- so why not have a covered BBQ and sink outside the roofline of your house ( for light , heat and even insurance reasons ) and make it an entertainment area . I have made the assumption that this 'cabana kitchen' isn't going to be your main kitchen ?

Okay , so you may 'just' have a storage area , or there may be some activities allowed , and I certainly understand the area is there and you want to utilise it , but see my first comment -- if it is going to be difficult , cost a lot and/or be legally marginal , then Why ?

So the new area that I want to make a kitchen area is under our existing extension. So lifting the ceiling the ceiling height can't happen and.lowing the floor will leave a step to walk through the existing house. It's an old house that they previously opened up to utilise the space hence not.bwing of legal height.

This would be a 2nd kitchen hence why I'm seeking to find out what the min height is. I believe we can do 2.2m in reality.