The Otago Farmers Market Trust already had "genuine interest" from 35 vendors, and vice-chairman Rodger Whitson said yesterday it hoped to open the market in January.
With the success of the Saturday market at the car park beside the Dunedin Railway Station, organisers had started looking for a second outlet for vendors. "South Dunedin was a logical choice," Mr Whitson said.
The trust's application for resource consent for the Macandrew Rd site, near the corner of Thomas St, was advertised by the Dunedin City Council yesterday.
The application said the market, to be held in the car park of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, was intended to run for a trial period each week from January 19 to April 27 in its first year, but from November to the end of April in subsequent years.
The market would be open from 3pm to 7pm.
It would run only in summer months, as vendors would struggle to provide two markets over winter, but the trust wanted year-round consent so it had the option of extending hours in future should vendors be able to supply both.
Mr Whitson said while the Saturday market was successful, there were still many Dunedin people who did not use the facility.
Many of the more successful markets in other parts of the world had developed mid-week markets, and they had done well.
Macandrew Rd was a busy part of the city, and the afternoon and early evening market would pick up custom from people travelling home from work.
The application said the trust hoped to attract up to 2000 people a week, about a quarter of those who went to the Saturday market.
There would be a limit to the number of vendors offering food to eat on site at the South Dunedin venue, and restrictions on the space available to eat food.
"A key factor in the success of the market will be if we can convince the local people of South Dunedin in the surrounding areas to walk to the market."
Providing car parking was another key, and the trust had an agreement to use a nearby parking area at 32 Macandrew Rd, with 66 parks for customers and 19 for vendors.
The trust will have to convince a council hearings committee to allow it to run the market in what is a residential zone.
Submissions on the consent close on December 1.
