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 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."

(China Daily/Agencies March 12, 2009)