Michael Jackson is renting Rod Stewart's house.

The pop superstar will live in the 'Maggie May' singer's Essex mansion when he comes to London to play his 10-show residency at The O2 arena in July.

The house boasts 180 acres, has its own soccer pitch field and is located 3.5 miles outside Greater London.

A source said: "It's going to be perfect for Michael and his kids."

It has also been revealed Jackson - who has three children, son Prince Michael, 10, daughter Paris, nine, and five-year-old son Prince Michael II - will be releasing new music ahead of his shows.

Concert promoter Randy Phillips said: "There will be a new Michael Jackson single before the first date.

"Michael has got some new music and he is looking for a new way of disseminating his material to his fans."

The singer - who has not performed a full-length concert since 2001 - is also said to be planning some spectacular visual effects, including a complicated trick that will see him floating across the stage.

Phillips explained: "He wants to use some technical effects that have never been seen before."

Jackson's arrival in Britain will also be memorable - he has reportedly hired the ￡5,000-an-hour Challenger 604 plane that featured in the last James Bond film 'Quantum of Solace'.

A source said: "He has taken an option on it to hire it for his trip to London in July."