You could replace it with a window that has fixed glass at the bottom and sliders on the top part.

easiest option is to replace the sliding door with windows with lower glass panels like me me says but i would consult a carpenter and bricklayer about removing the sliding door and the top rows of bricks and use the bricks to install a lower wall but you will also needs to finish off the new wall inside...like you say, matching the top of the new window to exiting will make it look less like an afterthought and it looks like you have a matching brick fence if you to find a few extra bricks and the sacrificed bricks could be replaced with a darker coloured brick to match your gutters

I would also seriously consider removing the part of the driveway which extends beyond the path. I can't imagine you choose to park your car that far up. It really makesit look like a converted garage with the drive extending to the house that way.

Have you thought of attaching a timber or metal screen over windows, this could be a vertical timber or a decorative metal piece, in the same dark colour as your trims, this would add security, look fabulous inside with the light giving a great ambiance to the room and a very stylish modern look to the exterior, it’s a feature on its own so you wouldn’t need to add it anywhere else.

Thanks for your help so far.. I have had some chats with the builder, he said it's not prefarable to remove the top section and put window to match others, as you'll be spending alot more money doing that on something that you may be able to cover and not notice. I woke up this morning with an idea. What about if I move the front door to meet the middle of the porch (this has been something commented on before on here, how the door is really tucked away and not noticeable enough)

, do some panelling or rendering in a dark blue/charcoal colour. Then use that same effect where the sliding door is surrounding it, including to the top. I have done a little mock up so present my ideas... I could even do the same on the front window to carry the theme, or that might be overkill, i think it probably is..... Rendering would obviously be the easiest, or even just painting those sections of the brick... Don't want it to look too higgledypiggledy.

sounds excellent

I like your mock up. You don’t need to render. You do need some updated landscaping and to remove the section of driveway in front of the sliding door.

So if using brick for the sections that need replacing, I could just paint the brick sections and that would work? Rather than rendering?

Just to explain, when referring to rendering, I am only talking about the panels/brick work that surrounds the door and the new window replacing sliding door sections (to ceiling etc). I am definitely not rendering the whole house.

Just paint the relevant brick sections.

Or simply hide the sliding window?

A simple slat panel that wraps around to the left.

(Not right against the window but about where your planters are, so you still have some good light in your room.)

And lots of plants in front of it so it all blend nicely.

lostinreno I like your mock up. only problem though is the path that goes to front door follows along from driveway to the side gate which is directly beside the sliding window. I wouldn't want to get rid of that as then I'm walking on grass everywhere and it is often muddy and wet where I live.

Just ignore the added grass!!